Hasegawa Chikuyo (Suiken)

active ca. 1876-1889

Newly Published Wigs to Put On: Actors Kataoka Gado III and Nakamura Fukusuke IV
(Shinpan katsura-tsuke: Kataoka Gado, Nakamura Fukusuke)

signed Suiken Chikuyo hitsu, publisher's information on bottom left margin, Nihonbachi-ku-dori sanchome ichibanchi, Ishijima Yae (Shinshodo), and dated on the upper left margin, Meiji nijunen (Meiji 20 [1887])

oban tate-e 14 1/2 by 9 7/8 in., 36.8 by 25 cm

The actor Nakamura Fukusuke IV (Shinkomaya, 18651940) on the left, is paired with Kataoka Gado III (1851-1895).

This composition is an omocha-e (toy print), the various wigs and applications of make-up or facial hair could be cut out and placed on the actors seen below in their dressing rooms. Designed to be used and typically destroyed in the process of playing with them, omocha-e, for board games like sugoroku or paper cut-outs like this example, are quite scarce.

(inv. no. 10-5774)

price: $900