Yoshiiku: Silhouette
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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,-