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Munehiro Hasegawa
'Seven Actors in a Dragon Boat' — Edo period Kamigata Woodblock Print

c. 1850

About the Item

Munehiro Hasegawa, 'Seven Kabuki Actors in a Dragon Boat,' woodblock print, c. 1850, Osaka-e, Kamigata-e. Signed 'Munehiro' in the block, upper left. A fine impression with fresh colors, on Japanese paper with backing; a vertical center fold (barely visible recto); several professionally repaired worm holes (visible verso), otherwise in good condition. Scarce. Image size/sheet size 9 1/2 x 14 1/4 inches (242 mm x 362 mm). The image depicts seven kabuki actors as the Seven Lucky Gods riding on a dragon boat. In Japanese mythology, the Seven Lucky Gods or Seven Gods of Fortune ( Ebisu, Daikokuten, Benzaiten, Bishamonten, Hotei, Fukurokuju, and Jurōjin) are believed to grant good luck, material abundance, and security. Dragon boats in Japan date back to around 1390, when they were called Hari in Okinawa, the southernmost island. The most established account is that they were brought in from Fukien (Fujian) and Guangdong (Kwangtung), provinces in southeastern China on the East China Sea coast. Later, Hari boat races became a national event of the former Ryukyu (Okinawa) Kingdom and spread over the Okinawa Islands as an oceanic god festival for abundant fishing and safety. The Osaka / Kyoto / Kobe area of Japan was called "kamigata" in the Edo period (1603-1867). The region had a significantly smaller population than the area around Edo, the capital. The ukiyo-e artists in kamigata specialized in "yaksha-e," depictions of actors and scenes from kabuki performances. The printmaking region developed a specialized style of print production distinguished by its skillful printing, luxurious color, and highly graphic imagery. The production numbers of these prints were much smaller than those of the Edo (capital) area and are consequently lesser known and more scarce. This work is not the typical Osaka chuban diptych format but a single sheet with a vertical center fold, probably due to being folded into a volume of collected prints. Although little information is available about the artist Munehiro Hasegawa (active 1850-1870), he is known for his prints of kabuki actors and is thought to have been a student of the famed Osaka printmaker Hirosada Utagawa.
  • Creator:
    Munehiro Hasegawa (1850 - 1870, Japanese)
  • Creation Year:
    c. 1850
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Width: 14.25 in (36.2 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Myrtle Beach, SC
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 982101stDibs: LU532316477572

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