Konishi Hirosada (ca 1810 - 1864) Chuko Junishi no Uchi (Loyalty and Fidelty for the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac): Dragon - Asao Yoroku I as Ogata Rikimaru, c.1848. Deluxe Chuban.
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This fine print by the Osaka artist, Konishi Hirosada (ca 1810 - 1864), is a mitate…
a kind of puzzle picture. The puzzle here though is more serious than
mere entertainment. In the 1840’s in Japan, but especially in Osaka, a
crumbling and centuries old government was attempting to stay afloat by
imposing strict anti-decadence laws… sometimes referred to as the Tenpo
Reforms. These prohibited the depiction of actors or theatre subjects, a
genre that had been hitherto wildly popular among kabuki fans.
Artists and publishers attempted work-arounds by producing recognisable
prints of unnamed actors, often in imaginary roles or else in roles not
taken in real life. These prints were then issued under the guise of
approved subjects… moral tales, views of famous landmarks or as in this
case, the signs of the zodiac.
Deciphering these prints at such a
distance is quite a task. Osaka prints are less well known, were
produced (albeit to extraordinary quality) in small numbers and short
print runs and the school tends to be under-represented in the
literature. The portrait is that of the kabuki actor Asao Yoroku I as Ogata Rikimaru from the play Nippon Daiichi Mekari no Jinji. Yoroku plays the role of a samurai who has acquired magical powers that allow him to control frogs. He wears a wig that suggests the character has not shaven his head for one hundred days, thus producing a dishevelled appearance. This type of wig is commonly used in period plays to express a combination of physical strength and evil intentions. The character in this Kunikazu print at the MFA, Boston is the same; and here we see him in the typical (and alarming) pose of a sorcerer.
The Zodiac sign is, ‘Dragon’, seen in the calligraphy in top right, black cartouche. The cartouche to the upper left shows rolling clouds and coiled smoke, redolent of the magical powers of the hero. Note that this actor’s costume is decorated with stylised thunder clouds which are also suggestive of intense fury and sorcerer’s prowess.
The series title translates as, Loyalty and Fidelity for the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac, hence the roles portrayed here illustrate some aspect of that sentiment. The portrait is of the appropriate actor in role, the upper right frame is the zodiac sign and the left represents a scene from the play from which the character is drawn. The game, if you like… then as now, is to connect all the elements to form the entire, allusive picture.
All of the prints in this series were found in a very battered concertina album of the period. In order to rescue the prints, remove them from the decaying acidic backing card and repair the wormholes, the complete album has had to be disassembled. Nevertheless the prints have been conserved and are in outstanding condition, aside from some repaired worm damage, principally to the plain margins. The complete deluxe set in this condition even with the marginal damage is very rare. Each print is exquisitely produced with deluxe embossing, double printing, mica and metallics… it is a masterpiece of the woodblock art. Aside from the worm damage the prints are all in very fine condition. The impressions and print quality are perfect, the condition is fine with no fading and and no discolouration. Since it was necessary to separate the prints from their backing etc we feel that the set may reasonably be sold individually or as a complete series.
This print has worm damage to the left-hand margin, the top margin and upper right cartouche, with a minor wormhole to the bottom margin. Otherwise, condition, colour and impression all fine. Embossing to cartouche, sleeves and pack; shomen-zuri and burnishing. Publisher's mark to left-hand margin.
An interesting feature of the set is the fact that they were published by Matsuki Heikichi, a publisher and printer of woodblock prints during the Meiji era, located in Yoshikawa-cho, a considerable distance from Osaka. He was the fourth generation in the family, known later for promoting the work of Kobayashi Kiyochika.
A copy of this series and this print can be found in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
18 x 24.5 cm.
