Ichikawa Jukai III as Kimura Nagato-no-kami, 1952 - Handsome portrait of Ichikawa Jukai III as the samurai Kimura Nagato-no-kami in the play "Kiri Hitoha" (A Paulownia Leaf). He gazes ahead solemnly, the soft pink and mauve around his eyes and the red of his lips contrasting with his pale skin. He wears dark green kamishimo with a gray and white diamond print inset over layers of finely detailed kimono in soft colors. His hair is pulled sleekly back into an upright knot tightly wrapped with embossed white cord. A hazy yellow glow surrounds an oil lamp atop a stand at right, the light fading off into darkness. A quiet, beautiful image, nicely detailed with fine bokashi shading and an embossed line along the side of the nose.


Publisher - Watanabe, with 6 mm seal at center left within image
Sealed - Signed "Shunsen," with red artist's leaf seal

Artist - Natori Shunsen (1886 - 1960)

Image Size - 14 3/4" x 9 7/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight paper remnants on reverse at top points on right edge from previous mounting. Small mark in subject, a couple light creases at edges. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.