Kesa Gozen

by Kunichika (1835 - 1900)

Current Status

Kesa Gozen by Kunichika (1835 - 1900)

Original Kunichika (1835 - 1900) Japanese Woodblock Print
Kesa Gozen

Series; Thirty-six Good and Evil Beauties, 1876

Kesa Gozen - Attractive portrait of the lovely Kesa Gozen, the wife of a palace guard, preparing to cut off her hair. The samurai Endo Musha Morito became obsessed with her, even though the happily married beauty rejected his advances. Afraid that Endo might harm her husband, she convinced him to murder her husband one night in their bedroom. She then cut off her hair and took her husband's place in the dark room, and Endo murdered her by mistake. Here, she looks calmly into a fine lacquer mirror on a stand as she pulls back her ponytail, taking a razor to her hair, fully aware that she faces her own death, willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of her husband's safety. She wears a purple kimono patterned with flowing water and leaves, over a red under robe with an embossed white collar. A poignant image of this courageous woman, detailed with fine line work in the hair and soft shading in the background.

Artist - Kunichika (1835 - 1900)

Image Size - 13 1/2" x 9" + margins as shown

Condition - With excellent color and detail as shown. Several small wormholes and holes, mostly near edges, repaired, blends well. Slight soiling and rubbing, some prints have slight creasing. Please see photos for a sense of individual condition. Generally in good condition overall.

Kesa Gozen by Kunichika (1835 - 1900)
Kesa Gozen by Kunichika (1835 - 1900)

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