About This Print
A bunraku puppet in the role of Kongōmaru Terutada (the superhero), in a Shibaraku Interlude. One of 18 prints published from 1922 to 1923 as part of the celebration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the death of Chikamatsu Manzaemon (1623-1724), perhaps the greatest dramatist in the history of the Japanese theater. Each design illustrates a scene or character from one of Chikamatsu’s famous works. For more details on this series go to Supplements of the Complete Works of Chikamatsu Manzaemon.Shibaraku Interlude
Source: Wikipedia website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ShibarakuA scene of roughly 50 minutes, Shibaraku is not a play unto itself, but a short drama inserted during interludes or in between full plays to provide variety and maintain a certain level of energy and interest on the part of the audience. The plot centers around the figure of Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa, who has become the stereotypical bombastic hero of the kabuki stage, with red-and-white striped makeup and strong, energetic movement. The historical Kamakura Kagemasa is famous for his bravery for having continued to fight after losing an eye in battle in the Gosannen War (1083-1087).
Note the use of gold metallic flakes, applied after the printing.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #46 |
| Title or Description | Kabuki Bunraku Puppet |
| Series | Woodblock Print Supplements to the Complete Works of Chikamatsu Dai Chikamatsu zenshu furoku mokuhan 大近松全集 付録木版 |
| Artist | Nishimura Goun (1877-1938) |
| Signature |  |
| Seal | unread red rectangular artist's seal (see above) |
| Publication Date | between 1922-1923 |
| Edition | likely first edition, but the number of editions issued is unknown |
| Publisher | Dai Chikamatsu zenshū kankōkai 大近松全集刊行会 (the Complete Work of Chikamatsu Publishing Association) |
| Carver | Yamagishi Kazue 1893-1996 |
| Printer | Nishimura Kumakichi |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | excellent |
| Miscellaneous | all prints from this series printed on a light tan-colored paper |
| Genre | shin hanga (new prints) |
| Format | dai-oban |
| H x W Paper | 17 7/8 x 11 5/8 in. (45.4 x 29.5 cm) |
| H x W Image | 15 3/8 x 10 3/4 in. (39.1 x 27.3 cm) measurement includes gray border |
| Collections This Print | The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University 201-0392; Smithsonian National Museum of Modern Art S2003.8.1597 |
| Reference Literature |
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