The Winter Leaf

The Winter Leaf is an original modern artwork realized by Kunikazu Utagawa in 1860.

Original woodcut print chuban diptych format, 1860. Signed: Sadakazu ga. Publisher: Ishiwa.

From the series "Shiki no uchi" (Four Seasons), the Winter Leaf. Arashi Rinshi as the rice merchant Denbei, Onoe Fujaku as former courtesan Oshun and Jitsukawa Enzaburo as monkey leader Yojiro and brother of Oshun. Last scene of the play Sarumawashi kadode no hitofushi. Yoshiro says goodbye to Denbei and Oshun, who will have to flee and commit double suicide. An expression of the couple's love is the identical colour of their robes.

Excellent fresh impression with metal pigments. Blind print, highlighted wood grain (Purple robes of the couple), bokashi, mica print (Inverted brown bowl on the shelf), visible wood grain, backed, slightly soiled, oxidation, backed.

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Kunikazu Utagawa was born around 1830 (died in 1919). He had a famous teacher, the ukiyo-e artist Kunisada Utagawa, who at his time was considered the best ukiyo-e artist. Best or not, Kunisada was quite successful and maintained a huge studio with many young students who may have produced a large number of the designs that were published under Kunisada's name.