Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水) (artist 05/18/1883 – 11/07/1957)
Matsumoto Kōshirō VII (松本幸四郎) as Sekibei (関兵衛)
1950
10.25 in x 15.25 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese color woodblock print
Signed: Hasui (巴水)
Artist's seal: Kawase
Publisher: Watanabe
Printer: Ono Gintarō (摺 斧銀太郎)
Date: Shōwa 25
Shōwa nijūgonen saku
昭和二十五年作
British Museum (via Ritsumeikan University) - misattributed to Kunisada
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts "The Kabuki actor Matsumoto Kōshirō VII (1870-1949) is portrayed as the border guard Sekibei from the play Seki no to, a two-part dance piece set in the 9th century at the barrier station on Mount Ōsaka." It was first performed in 1784.
Quoted from: Kawase Hasui: The Complete Woodblock Prints, vol. 1, p. 126.
This print is unusual on several levels. First, almost all of Hasui's output was dedicated to some form of landscape imagery. Very few of his prints were representations focused on people and/or dolls that looked like children. And, second, this print appeared the year after this actor had died. Did Hasui know him personally? Were they friends? Was it a commission? Was it in the works when Kōshirō VII died?
Watanabe Mokuhan Bujitsu Gahō (渡邊木版美術画舗) (publisher)
Matsumoto Kōshirō VII (七代目松本幸四郎) (actor)
Shōwa era (昭和時代) (genre)