About This Print
One of fourteen prints by the artist that appeared in the magazine Shin Nigao. This print depicting Matsumoto Kōshirō VII in the role of Chōbei in the play Banzui Chōbei Shojin Manaita appeared in the 5th and last issue, published in November 1915.
For more information on this short-lived magazine whose purpose was to advertise the Kabuki theater and renew interest in actor prints, see the article Shin Nigao Magazine.
The Actor in the Print
Source: Kabuki 21 website http://www.kabuki21.com/koshiro7.phpMatsumoto Kōshirō VII 松本幸四郎 (1870-1949) was also known as Ichikawa Komazō VIII, Ichikawa Somegorō IV and Ichikawa Kintarō. Matsumoto Kōshirō VII was one of the leading tachiyaku from the end of the Meiji era to the end of the forties. Best disciple of Ichikawa Danjūrō IX, he transmitted his master's knowledge, traditions and acting methods to his three sons who became the best tachiyaku of the second half of the twentieth century.
Matsumoto Kōshirō VII's best roles: Benkei ("Kanjinchō"), Sekibei/Ôtomo no Kuronushi ("Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To"), Ōmori Hikoshichi ("Ōmori Hikoshichi"), Soga Gorō Tokimune ("Ya-no-Ne"), Watanabe Tsuna ("Ibaraki"), Watōnai ("Kokusen'ya Gassen"), Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa ("Shibaraku"), Nikki Danjō ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi"), Takatoki ("Takatoki").
The Play
The drama Banzui Chōbei Shōjin Manaita was written by Sakurada Jisuke I and first performed in 1803.Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #233 |
| Title/Description | Kōshirō in the role of Chōbei (Matsumoto Kōshirō VII as Chobei in Banzui Chōbei Shojin Manaita) |
| Series | Magazine: Shin Nigao (New Portraits) volume five 新似顔 第一年五編 |
| Artist | Matsuda Seifū (1880-1978) |
| Signature |  松田青風 畫 Matsuda Seifū ga printed on bottom of magazine page print was originally tipped to. |
| Seal | Artist's 青 "Ao" seal (as shown above) |
| Date | November 1915 |
| Edition | First and only edition printed in magazine Shin Nigao |
| Publisher | Nigaodō 似顔洞 |
| Carver and Printer | Igami Bonkotsu (1875-1933) |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | good - soiling and light foxing |
| Miscellaneous | attached to original magazine page |
| Genre | shin hanga (new prints) nigao-e |
| Format | koban |
| H x W Paper | print: 7 3/8 x 4 5/8 in. (18.7 x 11.7 cm) mounting sheet: 9 9/16 x 7 3/8 in. (24.3 x 18.7 cm) |
| Collections This Print | Honolulu Museum of Art 31942; The British Museum 1991,1112,0.193.5 (entire magazine, only front cover shown); Art Research Center Ritsumeikan University BM-SJ193-05 (British Museum's copy of entire magazine with all pages shown) |
| Reference Literature |
7/27/2020
11/19/2018
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