| Artist | SHIMA, Seien (1892-1970) |
| Title | "The Heroine Yugiri" (aka, "The Departed Spirit of a Courtesan") |
| Date | ca1923 |
| Provenance | Dealer contact--from an exceptional private collection. |
| Series | A Supplement of "The Complete Works of Chikamatsu" (12-print series) ("Dai Chikamatsu Zenshu") |
| Publisher | unk |
| Seal, Carver/Printer | Yamagishi Kazue/Nishimura Kumakichi (both artisans produced the entire 12-print series) |
| Image Size | 9 1/4 x 10 1/2 image (11 1/2 x 17 3/4 background) (plus wide margins) |
| Impression | Very Fine. Superbly executed "bokashi" (gradation of colors) shading to face, hair, and background; light "gauffrage" to hair-pins and cartouche; nicely visible woodgrain to grey "framing"; detailed carving. |
| Condition | Excellent. Excellent colors. Very clean front and verso. (No flaws noted--finest copy we've encountered.) |
| Reference/Illus | "The Female Image," p.97, pl.124. |
| Comments | From a 12-print series of prints (each done by a different artist) published c1922/23; all were carved by Yamagishi Kazue and printed by Nishimura Kumakichi. For a further discussion of this series, see "The New Wave - Prints from the Robert O. Muller Collection" (page 168). (Most "Chikamatsu" prints are found badly spotted or toned--these are in very fine condition.) |
| Item # | EG-181 |
| Price | $625 (Sold/PR) |