NIHON NO KAWARABAN: HAN MOTO BOSAKA YOTSUBASHI Balance Unread
40011101Japan 1828 Bosaka Yotsubashi. Large Kawarabansingle sheet: 49 x 25.4 cm. print: 43.5 x 31.2 cm. woodblock printed old center fold period re-backing very clean solid & firm example unusual item pictorial Kabuki dance and singing. . . . A CHARMING KABUKI THEATRE STORY BROADSIDE . . . SHOWING MUSICIANS DANCERS & SINGERS . This charming woodblock broadside consists of a title cartouche at the right edge with an imprint colophon at the far left margin partly unread. . The print consists of fourteen "scenes' from a musical Kabuki play dance and singing accompaniment. . Scenes from the top right downward: . a. A woman dancer and singer accompanies two other singers who tell the story and a Shamisen player. . b. Below that is a Kabuki play with a woman in elaborate Kimono performing for her lord. Below that is an court scene. To its left are two Samurai one paints on a Shoji screen the other kneels while drawing his sword. Below this are two elaborately dressed women who speak with the lord. . c. The left of center top to bottom. Kabuki play continues with a large octopus-headed person with four other people perform. Below that is a samurai walking in the rice paddy finding a bright object in the soil. Below that is a traveler with a box on his back he meets a woman and child in a fan-shaped print. . At the top left going downwards is a group of three performers one plays the Shamisen the other two are singers of the story. To their left is a mounted Samurai warrior on a horse. Below that are 4 tradesmen making wooden planks directed by the lord who instructs his deputy. Below that is a scent of two Samurai who are about to sword fight. A woman and porter looks on. Most likely a duel over a woman. . Color scans are posted to our website. . CONDITION: The work is woodblock printed on a rare Kawaraban broadside single Deluxe size sheet with contemporary neatly re-backed. . There is some of the usual bur minor surface rubbing dustiness with very good impression and registry. The back side is clean without marks or issues. . . unknown
