Toshusai Sharaku (Actif 1794-1795) Onoe Matsusuke I dans le rôle de Matsushita Mikinoshin 1794

okubi-e de l'acteur Onoe Matsusuke I dans le rôle de Matsushita Mikinoshin dans la pièce Go-Taiheiki Shiraishi-banashi jouée le cinquième mois de Kansei 6 (1794); l'homme présenté l'air inquiet, une barbe naissante et décoiffé, tenant à la main un éventail, son kimono vert fonçé, le mon de la famille Matsusuke en forme de deux éventails inscrit Matsu sur la manche droite; fond micacé gris argent, marque de l'éditeur Tsutaya Jusaburo, cachet de censure Kiwame, signé Tushusai Sharaku ga



Oban 36,4 cm x 23,9 cm; 13 5/16  x 9 7/16  in. 

Vente Manzi, Drouot 1920 lot 219, by descent since then.

Sharaku, portrait d'acteurs 1794-1795, Huguette Berès, Exhib.cat , Paris 1980, no.12

Kurth 20n, pl.46 - V et I 279 et 273 bis, pl.LXX - BM 17, p.153 (repr.) -U Taisei 2 (coul) - Rumpf 3, p.36 - H et L 25, p.108, repr. p. 109 - Ledoux 15 - Yoshida 1960, I, 15, pp.42 et 43 - Tnmc 2357 et 2356 (autre état) - Suzuki p.127, pl.13 (coul) -U Jiten 17 - UT p.119, pl.16 (coul). Hillier, Vever II, p.587, pl.595 

The print is in fair state with the expected wear to the mika. Particularly to the upper left and lower right corners. The print has been backed on rice paper; There is an old restoration approx 2.5 by 1.5cm along the lower right margin (see detail on photographs), another restored hole 3 x 2mm beneath the actor right eye (showing on the illustration in the catalogue) . There is a small pinhole by the top margin, three others along the lower left margin. The print has been trimmed about 1cm along the top margin and slightly along the left. The impression is good. The colours are as expected somewhat faded, but overall seem good to me for a print by the artist. There is some soiling and foxing on the hand and chest of the character as well as on his hairs, and a small foxed stain in between his eyebrows (as showing on the illustration).
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En 1980 quatorze épreuve étaient recensées dans les collections publiques, sept dans des collections privées et quatre étaient non localisées.

Public collections: Berlin, Museum fur Ostasiatishe Kunst - Boston, Museum of Fine Arts - Chicago Art Institute (coll. Buckingham. Ins.ms) - Haïfa, Tikotin, Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art - Kansas City, William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art and Mary Atkins Museum of Fine Arts - Londres, British Museum (coll.Swatow) - New Haven, Yale University Art Gallery - New York, Metropolitan Museum (deux épreuves) - Paris, Musée Gumet (coll.Camondo) - Philadelphie, Museum of Art - Portland, Museum of Art - Stockholm, National Museum - Tokyo, Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan (deux épreuves)]

L' homme est déprimé au visage inquiet, les yeux cernés et l'apparence défaite. Sa femme est malade et il ne parvient plus à s'acquitter de ses impôts. Sa fille a décidé pour venir en aide à sa famille, de s'offrir dans le quartier des plaisirs.

Matsushita Mikinoshin is one of the central characters in the Go-Taiheiki Shiraishi-Banashi. His wife is ill, his finances are low as he cannot afford to pay his taxes anymore. His eldest daughter has decided to offer herself in the pleasure district in order to assist her family. Sharaku depicts here a depressed man. His face is worried, his eyes tired. His hairs are untidy and his beard growing. He holds a closed fan in his hand, wears a dark green kimono showing the mon of the family Matsusuke, two overlapping fans inscribed with the Kanji Matsu, on the right sleeve. The scene probably takes place before his fight against Shiga Daishichi, a character whose Sharaku also portraited. The ehon banzuke shows Matsushita Mikinoshin attempting to defend himself against Daishichi, but having already has a knee on the floor.