Paul Binnie

Scottish, b. 1967

group of 5 sheets of watercolor sketches from kabuki-za dress rehearsal

watercolor on paper, titled, dated, and signed on all paintings, Dress Rehearsal Kabuki-za, 5/31/93, BINNIE, with artist's oval seal Bin-ni, and signed in kanji Bin-ni on the 5th sheet, 1993

each approximately 12 1/8 by 17 1/8 in., 30.9 by 43.4 cm

These five watercolor sketches were made during a dress rehearsal at the Kabuki-za at the end of May 1993. The plays on the June 1993 bill at the Kabuki-za were Meiboku Sendai Hagi, Keya-mura (Act 9 of Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi), Suo Otoshi, Momoku Monogatari, and Renjishi. From the inscription on the fifth sheet referencing Nikki Danjo and the “Trial Scene,” it is clear that it (and likely one or more other sheets) depicts scenes from Meiboku Sendai Hagi. Starring in that particular production were Matsumoto Koshiro IX as Nkiki Danjo, Nakamura Tomijuro V as both Yashio and Hosokawa Katsumoto, Ichikawa Sadanji IV as Arajishi Otokonosuke, Nakamura Jakuemon IV as Masaoka, Kawarazaki Gonjuro III as Sakae Gozen, Tachikawa Yamato as Senmatsu, and Kikujima Sachie as Tsuruchiyo.

Reference:
www.kabukidb.net

(inv. no. C-1455)

price: $750