Comments - Fantastic kabuki portrait of Nakamura Utaemon V as Yodogimi, the concubine of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and mother of his son, Hideyori. Just before the fall of Osaka Castle, a spy in the household tried to secretly remove Hideyoshi's wife, Princess Sen, to safety at the bequest of Hideyoshi's enemy Tokugawa Ieyasu. When Yodogimi learns of Ieyasu's treachery, she threatens the princess with a naginata, preventing her escape. Teetering on the brink of madness, Yodogimi kills another of Ieyasu's co-conspirators before seeking refuge with her son in the castle granary as Tokugawa forces attack. Now completely insane, she no longer recognizes her son, and the pair commits suicide as the granary goes up in flames. She stands here looking to the side with an expression of quiet distress, her brows slightly furrowed and her long hair falling over her shoulders. The handle of her naginata appears above her back, and the short sword she will use to kill herself is tucked into the woven red sash around her waist.
A Very Rare Private Commission - Nakamura Utaemon V privately commissioned Shunsen to create this image for distribution to his fan club. This evocative, poignant portrait of the actor is exquisitely carved and printed, with deeply embossed patterns in the kimono and a shimmering silver mica background, both deluxe treatments. Printed in a limited edition by an unknown publisher, this design is extremely rare and a terrific choice for a serious shin-hanga or kabuki collector.
Artist - Natori Shunsen (1886 - 1960)
Image Size - 14 3/4" x 10 1/8" + margins as shown
Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Tiny losses at two corners, a couple small tears at edge, repaired. Toning, faint stains and small spot in margins, small indent. Please see photos for details. Good overall.
