Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833-1904)
A large profile silhouette of the Kabuki actor Sawamura Tanosuke III with a make-up brush in his hand. In the small round picture cartouche a coloured portrait of this famous onnagata. A calligraphed poem by the actor surrounds his silhouette.
Untitled - Sawamura Tanosuke III
Series: Makoto no tsukihana no sugata-e (Portraits as True Likenesses in the Moonlight)
Signature: Ikkeisai Yoshiiku sha
Seal: Yoshiiku
Publisher: Hirookaya Kôsuke (Kikujudô, Eisendô), Edo
Date: 1863, 3rd month
Size: Vertical Ôban, 37 x 24, 5 cm (overall)
Excellent impression and colours, with embossing. Visible wood grain. Untrimmed and unbacked, excellent condition. Cf. MFA Boston, 11.39764 and 11.41081; Waseda 009-0181 a.o.
This series of silhouetted character portraits of famous Kabuki performers is one of the most interesting works by the artist, who (along with Yoshitoshi) was Kuniyoshi's best pupil. The frontispiece to the series (MFA Boston, Inv. No. 11.41080) shows the artist painting such a silhouette with the aid of a candle placed behind a shôji wall.
€ 550,-