Tsuruya Kōkei (弦屋光溪) (artist 1946)
Nakamura Kichiemon II (より二世中村吉右衛門) as Musashibō Benkei (武蔵坊弁慶)
02/1988
9.375 in x 15.375 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Artist Seal: Tsuru ( 弦 )
Edition Seal: 72 impressions (shichijûni shina 七十二品) with brushed in impression number, nijûroku (二十六 26)
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena
Kruizenga Art Museum, Hope College, Holland, Michigan The curatorial files at the Minneapolis Institute of Art say of this print: "Benkei is a wise and powerful warrior-priest who is charged with the protection of the general Minamoto Yoshitsune. Disguised as mountain priests they try to escape north through various checkpoints. At the last one, Benkei lies to be collecting money for a temple and the officer in charge of the checkpoint demands to see the list of supporters. Benkei takes an empty scroll and invents their names, successfully convincing the chief guard to let them pass."
****
Kanjinchô (勧進帳), at the Kabuki-za in 1/1988; Series: Six scenes from the stage, full-length portraits, Series VI:
Printed on extremely thin Gampi tori no ko paper (from Fukui Prefecture); printed to edges of paper (no margins); with mica in the yellow background above Benkei; Woodblock made from Magnolia obovata; printed on ganpi tori no ko paper;
This design, Kôkei’s 102nd overall print, released in the second month (i.e., 1 mo.) after the performance).
self-printed (sōsaku hanga - 創作版画) (genre)
Nakamura Kichiemon II (二代目中村吉右衛門: from May 1965 to November 2021) (actor)