Five Young Men of the White Waves - Kunichika's series "Five Young Men of the White Waves" depicts actors as five famous thieves, the "shiranami gonin," a popular subject for kabuki plays. Shiranami means white waves, and here is used to mean thieves or robbers. Each portrait presents an actor in character on the cover of a book, with the left edge of the cover folded back to reveal text and an inside page. The figures are nicely detailed with fine line work in the hair, and are set off by deep red backgrounds. A handsome Kunichika series in an unusual and interesting format. We've never come across these designs before.

Artist - Kunichika (1835 - 1900)

Image Size - 14" x 9 1/2"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Very slight paper remnants on reverse from previous backing. Slight ink offsetting, very slight rubbing at edges. Please see photos for details. Good overall.