About This Print
One of seven prints by Ogawa Hyōe that appeared in the magazine Shin Nigao. Although the primary purpose behind the magazine was to advertise the Kabuki theater and renew interest in actor prints, five prints in the last issue of the magazine portrayed individuals involved in the month-long celebrations of Emperor Yoshihito's (Emperor Taishō) enthronement in November 1915. This portrait is of Seikanji Utako, a young woman descended from court lineage, chosen as one of five dancers to perform the ancient dance Gosechi no Mai at the coronation celebration. A second print portraying another dancer, Hagiwara Taneko, dressed to perform to perform Gosechi no Maihime (IHL Cat. #280) was also contributed to this same issue by Ogawa.
The website of the Institute of Taiwan History lists both Seikanji Utako and Hagiwara Taneko as taking part in the preparations for the Grand Ceremony of the Imperial Coronation held in Kyoto.
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.
Reporting on the Coronation Entertainment - The Straits Times, 28 August 1915
| In regard to the entertainments to be given on the first day of the Coronation, the ancient "quintuple dance" known as Gosechi-no-Mai will constitute, according to the Coronation Committee the most prominent part of the programme. The origin of this dance is said to be traceable as far back as the days of Emperor Temmu (697 a.d.) The ladies who will perform the dance next November at the Coronation celebration have been selected from among the unmarried daughters of the descendants of ancient courtiers, to the number of eight, of whom three form the reserve. The ladies vary in age from 19 to 23 years, and will appear dressed in ancient costumes. |
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #851 | ||
| Title (Description) | Seikanji Utako [dressed to perform] Gosechi no Maihime 五節之舞姫 (清閑寺歌子) Gosechi no Maihime (Seikanji Utako) | ||
| Series | Magazine: Shin Nigao (New Portraits) volume five 新似顔 第一年五編 | ||
| Artist | Ogawa Hyōe (active c. 1915) | ||
| Signature | not signed on print. 小川兵衛 畫 printed on page print was originally tipped to. | ||
| Seal | not sealed | ||
| 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 | excellent | ||
| Miscellaneous |
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| Genre | shin hanga (new prints); nigao-e | ||
| Format | koban | ||
| H x W Paper | 7 1/4 x 4 5/8 (18.4 x 11.7 cm) | ||
| Collections This Print | Honolulu Museum of Art 27497; 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) | ||
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