Natori Shunsen

1886-1960

New Versions of Figures on the Stage: Actor Matsumoto Koshiro VIII as Watanabe no Tsuna
(Shinpan butai no sugata-e: Matsumoto Koshiro VIII, Watanabe no Tsuna)

signed Natori Shunsen with artist's seal Shunsen, with round Watanabe publisher seal in lower right corner, the actor's name and role on the right margin, Matsumoto Koshiro, Watanabe no Tsuna, and dated below, Showa nijurokunen, juni gatsu saku (Showa 26 [1951], 12th month), ca. 1951

dai oban tate-e 15 3/4 by 10 5/8 in., 40 by 27.1 cm

The actor Matsumoto Koshiro VIII (Matsumoto Hakuo, 1910-1982) is in the role of Watanabe no Tsuna from the play Ibaraki (Ibaraki), staged at the Minamiza theater of Kyoto in December 1950. Watanabe no Tsuna is the brave hero of the play, who drives the Ibaraki demon from Rashomon gate, taking the demon's arm as a trophy. Later in the play, the demon returns to his house in the guise of an old aunt, and steals the arm back.

References:
Yamaguchi Keizoro, Shunsen Natori Exhibition Catalogue, Kushigata, 1991, no. 72
Kozo Yamada, Shunsen Natori: Collection of the Kushigata Shunsen Museum of Art, 2002, p. 48, cat. no. 59

(inv. no. 10-1588)

price: $1,800