Publisher - Adachi from a rare series of Edo masterwork designs. Adachi publisher seal in margin or on reverse.

Adachi was one of the most respected publishers of the 20th century. Their woodblocks were printed to the highest standards with excellent color and fine detail. Founded in 1925, Adachi also chose interesting and varied subjects for their prints and was the only publisher of many famous old ukiyo-e images.

Comments - Classic kabuki portrait of Nakamura Noshio II in the role of a white fox disguised as the beauty Kuzunoha. The nobleman Abe no Yasuna once rescued a fox by fighting the hunter who had trapped it. The fox returned to visit him as a beautiful young lady named Kuzunoha in order to tend his wounds from the battle. After they married and had a child, their son caught a glimpse of her true fox form, so she decided to leave her family. She is shown here at work, a cloth draped protectively over her hairstyle and a towel draped over her shoulder. She wears an informal blue and white kimono patterned with tie-dyed seashells, her sleeves tied back with a red sash.

Artist - Kunimasa (1848 - 1920)

Image Size - 15" x 10"

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.