Ota Masamitsu - A leading kabuki artist of the later shin hanga period, Ota Masamitsu is best known for his two, 12 print portrait series, "Figures of the Showa Stage" and "Leading Figures of the Modern Stage in their Most Famous Roles," published by Banchoro during the 1950s. In Ota’s works, we see the evolution of the shin hanga actor print towards more realistic portraiture. His designs incorporate Western style shading and perspective to create a much more three-dimensional image, along with beautifully precise line work and saturated color. Ota Masamitsu's kabuki portraits are comparable to those of the better known Natori Shunsen, but Ota's work remains little known and his woodblocks are rarely seen in the market. His powerful and expressive portraits capture the individual personality of the performer, and are a great choice for a kabuki enthusiast or shin hanga collector.

This series - The first edition release of the "Leading Figures of the Modern Stage in their Most Famous Roles" series was limited to 200 prints. Each impression features an embossed number in the lower right corner of the margin. These prints include the original outer folder, which has a label with publisher's information and print number on reverse, along with an additional informational sheet in Japanese. It is extremely rare to have the original folders for these designs, making them especially desirable to collectors (see example of title block and numbering on folders below, condition of individual folders varies). Don’t miss this opportunity to collect a classic kabuki portrait by Ota Masamitsu in its originally released format.

Nakamura Utaemon as Yatsuhashi, 1954 - Publisher - Banchoro
Limited edition number - 97, embossed in lower right margin

Artist - Ota Masamitsu (1892 - 1975)

Image Size - Print 14 3/4" x 10" + margins as shown; folder 18 1/8" x 12 1/8"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Drying holes in left margin, toning and spotting in margins, a few faint spots in subject. Good condition. Folder: toning and soiling in margins, slight creasing, a few tears at edges. Please see photos for details.