Yoshiiku: Silhouette
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Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833-1904)

A large profile silhouette of the actor Bandô Hikosaburô V holding a sake cup. In the round cartouche a is a smaller colour portrait of the famous actor. A poem by the actor is calligraphed above his head.

Untitled - Bandô Hikosaburô V

Series: Makoto no tsukihana no sugata-e (Portraits as True Likenesses in the Moonlight)

Signature: Chôkarô Yoshiiku môsha

Seal: unread

Engraver: Hori Mino (Koizumi Minokichi)

Publisher: Maruya Tokuzô (Marutoku, Hôzendô), Edo

Date: 1863, 3rd month

Size: Vertical Ôban, 37,7 x 24 cm (sheet size)

Very nice impression, colours and condition, with well visible wood grain. Untrimmed and unbacked.
Cf. MFA Boston, 11.39764 and 11.41081; Waseda 009-0181 a.o. This series of silhouetted character portraits of famous Kabuki performers is one of the most interesting works by the artist, who (along with Yoshitoshi) was Kuniyoshi's best pupil. The frontispiece to the series (MFA Boston, Inv. No. 11.41080) shows the artist painting such a silhouette with the aid of a candle placed behind a shôji wall.
Note: The prints published by Maruya are not later editions, as claimed by Marks (Publishers, p. 227, on P0568). The series was published jointly by the two publishers Hirookaya and Maruya; there are no variants with different publisher seals.

€ 550,-