Yoshu Chikanobu - Three Characters in a Kabuki Drama

Three Characters in a Kabuki Drama

Yoshu Chikanobu's original Japaneses woodcut, "Three Characters in a Kabuki Drama" represents a scene from a popular play of the day. Each actor is named, with the title of his character, and Yoshu Chikanobu's signature appears in the right panel. With its strongly printed lines and colours it is illustrative of the best of Meiji period art. This triptych (three oban sized woodcuts), depicts a Kabuki actor in each panel. It, is printed upon mid nineteenth century mulberry paper with full margins as published Matsushita Heibei around 1880. It is a fine, original example of the art created by Yoshu Chikanobu, a leading Japanese woodcut artist of the Meiji period.

Three Characters in a Kabuki Drama

View other original Japanese Woodcuts by Yoshu Chikanobu.

Yoshu Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Date	Medium	Notes	-
01.-		A Lady in Waiting Hands The Noh Mask to an Actor by Yoshu Chikanobu	October 1895	Original Woodcut (Triptych)	Published by Fukuda Hatsujiro for the Series: Chiyoda Inner Palace (Chiyoda no Ooku)	Sold
02.-		A Young Girl Learning A Song of Enlightenment by Yoshu Chikanobu	November 05, 1883	Original Woodcut	Published by Zaida for the Series: Kaika Kyoiku mari uta (Songs of Enlightenment & Education)	Sold
03.-		Battle between Saigo Takamori's Samurai Rebels and Meiji Government Troops at Kagoshima by Yoshu Chikanobu	1877	Original Woodcut (Diptych)	Series: Kagoshima senki (Chronicles of the War against Kagoshima)
04.-		Shimousa. Iwahashi no yuki. Kiuchi Sogoro (Snow at Iwahashi in Shimousa Province. Kiuchi Sogoro departing for Edo) by Yoshu Chikanobu	1884	Original Woodcut	Published by Kobayashi Tetsujiro in Setsugekka 'Setsu-gekka' (Snow, Moon and Flowers)
05.-		Sino-Japanese War Chronicle (A Heroic Scene from the War with China) by Yoshu Chikanobu	1895	Original Woodcut (Triptych)	Published by Maki Kinnosuke, Signed Yoshu Chikanobu (right panel)	Sold
06.-		Three Characters in a Kabuki Drama by Yoshu Chikanobu	c. 1880	Original Woodcut (Triptych)	Published by Matsushita Heibei

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Title:	Three Characters in a Kabuki Drama
Artist:	Chikanobu, Yoshu (Japan, 1838 - 1912)
Date:	c. 1880
Medium:	Original Japanese Woodcut (Triptych)
Publisher:	Matsushita Heibei
Signature:	Signed Yoshu Chikanobu hitsu (right panel)
Note:	Yoshu Chikanobu: As little as forty years ago, 'purists' of Japanese art rejected the woodcuts of the Meiji period (1868 - 1912) as being garish and unrefined. The introduction of Western dies and styles (c. 1865) created bold designs began to dominate the Japanese woodcut. Far from ruining traditional Japanese art, Meiji artists injected a new life into the genre by amalgamating Japanese and Western forms and styles. The greatest masters of this era -- Yoshitoshi, Kunichika and Chikanobu -- thus created a number of strikingly unique images and contemporary scholarship now favourably compares their work with the art of earlier nineteenth century designers.
	A leading Japanese woodcut artist of the Meiji period, Yoshu Chicanobu studied under Kunichika (1835 - 1900). Kunichika devoted himself to the actor print and his designs were much more traditional than any other Meiji artist. Conversely, Chikanobu showed little interest in the accepted actor portrayals and was much more revolutionary in his colouring and design techniques. His primary interest lay in genre depictions, leading him both to scenes of contemporary Japanese events and the study of historical and courtly customs. He was, in fact, the recognized artist of the Japanese aristocracy and as such his actor scenes dealt with the 'Noh' theatre, the drama of the nobility such as this original woodcut, entitled, "Three Characters in a Kabuki Drama".
	Yoshu Chikanobu produced many fine woodcuts dealing with scenes from the Noh Theatre, and with the pleasures of the noble courts, such as this original Japanese woodcut of "Three Characters in a Kabuki Drama". His art is remarkable for his bold design elements and beautiful printing techniques. This is clearly evident in this original Japanese woodcut. With the exception of Yoshitoshi, his style was perhaps more individualistic than any other Japanese woodcut artist of the times. This original woodcut (Triptych) depicts a Kabuki actor in each panel from a popular play of the day. Each actor is named, with the title of his character, and Yoshu Chikanobu's signature appears in the right panel. With its strongly printed lines and colours it is illustrative of the best of Meiji period art.
Size:	13 3/4 X 27 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	UnMatted
Buy Now	Price: $675.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon nineteenth century mulberry (rice paper) and with full margins as published by Matsushita Heibeiin around 1880. Containing very minor silk worm holes and (as usual) all three panels have been glued together by a former owner, else a strong impression bearing all the fine lines and vibrant colours of a very early printing. Altogether, this original woodcut triptych of Three Characters in a Kabuki Drama represents a prime example of the art of Chikanobu.
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