Twenty-four Favorites of Enlightenment - Handsome design from a rarely seen Kunichika series pairing kabuki portraits with small scenes extolling modern inventions or modernized activities from the Meiji era, the "Enlightenment" of the title. These examples include rickshaws, streetlights, telegraph lines, steamships, and horse-drawn carriages. The figures are beautifully drawn and detailed with lively color, set off by a deep red background framed by a yellow border featuring confetti-like shapes. Some images includes deluxe publishing techniques such as burnishing and embossing. The series title is sometimes translated as "Twenty-four Favorites of New Civilization" or "Twenty-four Favorites of the Meiji Restoration." An interesting and unusual series.

Onoe Kikugoro as Shirai Gonpachi - Handsome kabuki portrait of Onoe Kikugoro as the robber and murderer Shirai Gonpachi. He looks up from the letter he is reading with a tight-lipped frown, the long message stretched out between his hands. He wears a purple kimono over a red under robe with a blue collar, his two swords tucked at his side. The inset above shows a modern teahouse with a stone balustrade around the verandah and a street light visible below, signs of the "enlightenment" in the series title, referring to the rapid progress being made during the Meiji era. An interesting series, rarely seen. Nicely detailed with embossing on the letter.

Artist - Kunichika (1835 - 1900)

Image Size - 14 1/8" x 9 5/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Horizontal centerfold. Slight toning and soiling, a few creases. Please see photos for details. Good overall.