SHIMA -- "The Heroine Yugiri (Departed Spirit)"

(Click HERE for additional image)
(Click HERE for additional image)
Artist SHIMA, Seien (1892-1970)
Title "The Heroine Yugiri"
(Also know as "The Departed Spirit of a Courtesan")
Date ca1923
Series A Supplement of "The Complete Works of Chikamatsu"
("Dai Chikamatsu Zenshu"), a 12-print series.
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 on 10 3/4 x 15 printed background (plus wide margins/slightly trimmed to 11 x 16 1/2 overall)
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 Nearly Excellent.
(Only minor "bumping" to lower margin; a few scattered marks; extreme outer margins slightly trimmed.)
Reference/Illus Illustrated in "The Female Image," p.97, pl.124.
Comments Part of 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).
Item # CG-755
Price $625