About This Print
This print is one of twelve small format prints created by Toyonari for the short-lived 1915 magazine Shin Nigao whose purpose was to advertise the Kabuki theater and renew interest in actor prints. Pictured is the actor Sawamura Sōnosuke in the role of Koharu. The print on the left was removed from the magazine page it was mounted on and the print on the left remains mounted to its original page with the artist's name, actor's name and actor's role printed beneath it. This print appeared in the second issue of the magazine, published in July 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.
Sawamura Sōnosuke I (1886-1924) was a talented onnagata actor, who unfortunately died before reaching the peak of his promising career. He was equally at home in sewamono and jidaimono dramas. He was outstanding in Princess and had the chance in his short career to perform the sanhime roles. He was also a good nimaime. He did not confine himself to the kabuki classics and took part in the creations of new dramas or the adaptation in Japanese of European modern dramas.
last revision:The Actor in the Print - Sawamura Sônosuke I
Source: Kabuki 21 website http://www.kabuki21.com/sonosuke1.phpSawamura Sōnosuke I (1886-1924) was a talented onnagata actor, who unfortunately died before reaching the peak of his promising career. He was equally at home in sewamono and jidaimono dramas. He was outstanding in Princess and had the chance in his short career to perform the sanhime roles. He was also a good nimaime. He did not confine himself to the kabuki classics and took part in the creations of new dramas or the adaptation in Japanese of European modern dramas.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #242, #1972 |
| Title | [Sawamura] Sōnosuke [in the role of] Koharu (宗之助の小春 Sōnosuke no Koharu) - printed in upper right of image and as shown below on the page the print is tipped to.  |
| Series | Magazine: Shin Nigao (New Portraits) volume unknown 新似顔 第一年貮編 |
| Artist | Yamamura Toyonari (1885-1942) |
| Signature |  |
| Seal |  |
| Date | July 1915 |
| Edition | First and only edition printed in magazine Shin Nigao |
| Publisher | Nigaodō 似顔洞 |
| Carver | Igami Bonkotsu (1875-1933) |
| Impression | IHL Cat. #242 and #1972: excellent |
| Colors | IHL Cat. #242 and #1972:excellent |
| Condition | IHL Cat. #242 and #1972:good - light soiling |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Genre | shin hanga (new prints); nigao-e |
| Format | koban |
| H x W Paper | IHL Cat. #242: 7 1/4 x 4 5/8 in. (18.6 x 11.7 cm) IHL Cat. #1972 mounting page: 10 x 7 in. (25.4 x 17.8 cm) IHL Cat. #1972 print: 7 1/4 x 4 5/8 in. (18.6 x 11.7 cm) |
| Collections This Print | The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University 201-0471; Smithsonian Freer|Sackler S2003.8.3438; The British Museum 1991,1112,0.193.2 (entire magazine, only front cover shown); Art Research Center Ritsumeikan University BM-SJ193-02 (British Museum's copy of entire magazine with all pages shown) |
| Reference Literature | Shin-Hanga: New Prints inModern Japan, Kendall Brown, Hollis Goodall-Cristante, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1996, p.49, fig. 52. |
7/31/2020
11/18/2018
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