Natori Shunsen (名取春仙) (artist 1886 – 1960)

Onoe Baikō VI [六世尾上梅幸] as the courtesan Aburaya Okon [油屋おこん] in the play Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba (伊勢音頭戀寢刃) or 'The Ise Dances and Love's Dull Blade'

Print

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Date:1931
Dimensions:10.75 in x 15.75 in (Overall dimensions) Medium:Japanese color woodblock print
Inscription:Signed: Shunsen (春仙)
Artist's seal: Natori
Publisher seal: Watanabe ko
(渡辺工)?
Links Waseda University
National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Kabuki21 - summary of the play Ise Ondo... Description:The background story behind this character:

In 1796 in the town of Furuichi near the Ise Shrine a drunken doctor went on a murderous rampage in the local Aburaya brothel. Before it was over a number of people lay dead or wounded including the maid Oman. Two days later the doctor committed suicide at the home of his uncle who was a low-ranking priest at the shrine.

This series of events and others like it had been fuel for the creative talents of 18th century authors. Within ten days the first performances of a play based on this incident was being performed in a town nearby. Its success spurred Chikamatsu Tokuzō (近松徳三 or ちかまつ.とくぞう:1751-1810) and two of his assistants to create their own version which debuted in Kyōto just two and a half months later. Supposedly written in only three days this qualifies it as an "overnight pickle play" or ichiyazuke kyogen (一夜漬狂言 or いちやづけ.きょうげん).

Like other murderous plays this one was often performed during the summer "...when the bloodcurdling doings on stage might provide audiences some 'chilling' relief in sultry weather."

Okon's lover is the sensitive Mitsugi, but when he takes possession of a bloodthirsty sword his whole personality changes. Okon is the heroine, but her role is somewhat secondary. Although Mitsugi leaves a stage littered with the dead and dying he is never blamed. The sword is. After several more dramatic scenes three figures 'pose triumphantly' at the end including Mitsugi and Okon. While this leaves the audience thinking this might be a happy ending it is nevertheless slightly ambiguous - "...Okon's fate remains vague."

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"Blocks about 20; superimosed printings, about 25..."

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A Christie's sale from April 2015 gave the title of the play as Ise ondo koi no ne yaiba

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Illustrated:

1) In color in 名取春仙 (Natori Shunsen), Kashigata City. 1991, #52, p. 54.

2) In a small black and white illustration in Modern Japanese Prints by Dorothy Blair, #216, reprint of the 1936 edition in 1997. Blair said the red artist's seal read "Shun", but other sources say it reads "Natori". She said it was undated but from 1931, while other believe it from anywhere between ca. 1929-34. Blair wrote: "Blocks, about 20; superimposed printings, about 25; edition, 100." Again others think the edition size is different: 150.
Related entities Watanabe Mokuhan Bujitsu Gahō (渡邊木版美術画舗) (publisher)
actor prints (yakusha-e - 役者絵) (genre)
Onoe Baikō VI (六代目尾上梅幸: from 3/1903 to 11/8/1934) (actor)
modern prints (shin hanga - 新版画) (genre)

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