Series; New Portraits of Actors on Stage
Nakamura Kichiemon as Chobei in Suzugamori, 1951 - Incredible portrait of Nakamura Kichiemon as the legendary otokodate or street knight Banzui Chobei in the drama "Suzugamori." While his palanquin is stopped at Suzugamori, the execution grounds outside Edo, Chobei witnesses a fight between the murderer Shirai Gonpachi and a gang hoping to capture him for a reward. He looks on with a tight-lipped scowl, his chin lowered and brows furrowed, holding a lantern up with one hand to illuminate the struggle. He wears a rust and white plaid traveling coat over a dark blue kimono with a bold pattern in lighter blue, and an under robe with a black collar. His hair is combed back into waves at the back of his neck, pulled up into a neat topknot tied with a white cord. The background is shimmering silver gray mica. Beautifully detailed with embossing in the folds of the paper lantern and the white cord, and soft pink bokashi shading around the eyes. A terrific shin-hanga kabuki design, deeply expressive.
Signed - Shunsen, with red artist's seal
Publisher - Watanabe
Artist - Natori Shunsen (1886 - 1960)
Image Size - 14 7/8" x 9 3/4" + margins as shown
Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. A couple faint lines in mica. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.