Ichikawa Shocho II as Umegawa and Kataoka Gado IV as Chubei, 1927 - Beautiful kabuki double portrait of the tragic lovers, Umegawa and Chubei, who decide to commit suicide together rather than be parted. Ichikawa Shocho II appears as the courtesan Umegawa, looking over her shoulder with a stricken expression, her lips tightly closed, her eyes wide but seeming to stare off into the distance. Her sweetheart, the courier Chubei, is wanted for stealing money from his firm to redeem Umegawa from her contract, and there is no other escape for him than to commit suicide. He looks up with a determined expression, his brows furrowed as he faces his fate. A terrific design with wonderfully expressive figures set off by a delicately speckled gray background, detailed with embossed lines along the side of each nose and the brows, and pale pink bokashi shading around the eyes. This series was lavishly published by Watanabe in a limited edition of only 150 prints.

Publisher - Watanabe, with "Watanabe ko" seal impressed at center right in subject
Sealed - Signed "Shunsen" with red artist seals "Shun" and "Sen," with artist's "Natori" red seal of approval at lower left corner

Artist - Natori Shunsen (1886 - 1960)

Image Size - 15 1/8" x 10" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Please see photos for details. Excellent overall.