Artist: Masamitsu Ota (1892–1975) Title: Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Rare and very sought after) Series: Figures of Modern Stage Format: approx. 42 × 28 cm Publisher: Banchoro Yakusha-e Hanga Woodblock Carver: Nagai Otokichi Printer: Miyake Kōshodō Technique: Multicolor woodblock print - Shin Hanga Year: 1949 The condition of this print is excellent. There are slight yellowish marks along the margins, likely from old adhesive—these can be professionally removed if desired. This is an original lifetime print by Masamitsu Ota. All seals are clearly visible, and the edition number 13 is embossed at the bottom. Technically, Ota's prints stand on the same level as those of Natori Shunsen, yet they remain considerably more affordable. This is largely because Shunsen worked with the prestigious Watanabe publishing house, which naturally drives up his prices. In my assessment, alongside Shunsen's work, Ota's prints represent some of the finest achievements in Japanese Kabuki actor woodblock portraiture. For a long time, this artist stood in the shadow of the great Kabuki portraitist Natori Shunsen. In the 1990s, Masamitsu Ota's prints experienced something of a renaissance and began attracting renewed attention among collectors. About the subject: The Kabuki actor Ichimura Uzaemon XV is depicted here in the role of the fireman Me-gumi Tatsugoro. Ota's actor portraits combine three-dimensional shading with the bold, flat color fields of traditional Japanese Kabuki prints in a compelling way. The individual features of the performers are particularly evident in the finely rendered faces and hands.