| Artist | TSUNETOMI, Kitano (1880-1947) |
| Title | "The Heroine Umekawa" (in the play "Meido no Hikayuki") (aka "Woman in Snow") |
| Date | ca1923 |
| Provenance | Dealer contact--from an exceptional private collection. |
| Series | "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 | 10 3/4 x 15 1/4 (plus wide margins) |
| Impression | Very Fine. Nicely executed "bokashi" (gradation of colors) shading; snowflakes depicted in "gofun" (white overprinting); white "mica" background and silver "mica" highlights to hair-pin and purple garment; nicely detailed carving. |
| Condition | Excellent. Excellent, fresh colors. Very clean front/verso. (Few scattered marks; very slight wear.) |
| Reference/Illus | Illustrated in "The Female Image," p.86, pl.106; "The New Wave" pl. 138. |
| Comments | A large head portrait of a young beauty, surrounded by large flakes of snow of hand-applied "gofun." Having only designed a few prints, works by Tsuentomi are quite rare--and this is the most sought-after print of the series. Part of a 12-print series of prints (each done by a different artist) published c1922/23. (Most "Chikamatsu" prints are found badly spotted or toned--these are in very fine condition.) |
| Item # | GG-279 |
| Price | $1500 |