Comment - Dramatic shin hanga kabuki portrait of an actor in the role of a Yakko (low ranking servant or samurai), depicted as Yakko ("yakko dako", "奴凧") or man kite. The Yakko is flying through the air with his kimono sleeves spread out like wings. He wears the distinctive clothing of a yakko, a yukata with a striped collar and diamond crest on the shoulders. His red under robe is decorated with fringe, which swings about as he moves. His full body stage makeup creates the fantastic appearance of bulging muscles. A black stick or rope is to be seen on top of the yakko's back. This is the hint to a real kabuki scene, the stick or rope to be the fastening of the actor to the upper kabuki stage. Mount Fuji appears below in white silhouette shaded to soft peach. Detailed with fine bokashi shading.


Series - ~


Artist - see Biography


Signature - Masamitsu (雅光)


Publisher -  Miyake Matsukage-dō (三宅松影堂) for 'Japanese Woodblock print research department' ('Nihon Ki-hanga Kenkyū-bu', '日本木版畫研究部') (from accompanying map)


Image Size - 44.0 x 29.0cm   (17 21/64" x 11 27/64")


Condition - single sheet; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Vertical large ôban (ôban tate-e)


The print comes in a folder and with the original explanation sheet in Japanese. Carver Nagai Otomatsu. Printer Uchikawa Matashiro.