Memorial Portrait (Shini-e) of Kabuki Actor Onoe Kikugorō IV — Death Print, Man'en 1 (1860) - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)
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€ 53
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Selected by Giovanni Bottero
Holds a master’s in Japanese art history with over 10 years’ expertise in Asian art.
Estimate € 180 - € 280
 | €53 | |
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 | €48 | |
| €10 | |
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Original Edo-period woodblock death print (shini-e) on paper, Memorial Portrait of Kabuki actor Onoe Kikugorō IV, Man'en 1 (1860), unsigned, with a demon-masked escort, vertical ōban approx. 35 × 24 cm, Japan; in fair condition.
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Description from the seller
** A rare Death Print, Man'en 1 (1860) **
Artist: Unsigned (無款) — no signature or seal appears on the sheet, consistent with a number of the memorial sheets issued for this actor's death
Title: Untitled shini-e (死絵, "death picture") for the actor Onoe Kikugorō IV (四代目尾上菊五郎), shown as a young woman (musume) in a blue kimono patterned with a lotus pond, escorted by a demon-masked figure carrying a large black umbrella — understood to represent the actor Arashi Otohachi III
Occasion: Memorial sheet marking the death of Onoe Kikugorō IV, who died on the 28th day of the 6th month of Man'en 1 (1860) and was buried at Kōraku-ji temple, Imado, Asakusa; the inscribed verse is attributed to his haiku pen-name, Baifu (梅婦)
Date: 1860 (Man'en 1), 6th month
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and colour on paper
Format: Vertical ōban approx. 35*24 cm
____________________________________________________________________
Condition
Fair overall. Colour and impression are good throughout. The paper is fair — minor trimming, scattered soiling, some surface rubbing, and minor old repairs are present, with a small loss at the lower edge. The sheet remains firm and supple to the touch, with no brittleness.. Please check the images carefully!
____________________________________________________________________
About the Print
Shini-e — "death pictures" — were issued within days of a well-known actor's death, sold as instant memorial keepsakes for fans and fellow performers. They typically show the actor not on stage but in an imagined, often symbolic scene: dressed for the road to the afterlife, in the robes of a Buddhist pilgrim, or, as here, accompanied by a demon figure evoking the journey beyond this world. The inscribed death poem (jisei), the posthumous Buddhist name, the date and place of burial, and the actor's family crest are standard elements of the form, all present on this sheet.
Onoe Kikugorō IV (1808–1860) was one of the leading actors of the late Edo stage, admired for his range across villain, ghost, and female roles alike; his death in the summer of 1860 prompted a wave of memorial prints from several of the leading Utagawa-school designers, a number of which — signed and unsigned alike — are preserved today in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts' Bigelow Collection. This sheet, showing Kikugorō in a female role shadowed by a demon-masked companion, belongs to that same outpouring of tribute prints from the summer of 1860.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
** A rare Death Print, Man'en 1 (1860) **
Artist: Unsigned (無款) — no signature or seal appears on the sheet, consistent with a number of the memorial sheets issued for this actor's death
Title: Untitled shini-e (死絵, "death picture") for the actor Onoe Kikugorō IV (四代目尾上菊五郎), shown as a young woman (musume) in a blue kimono patterned with a lotus pond, escorted by a demon-masked figure carrying a large black umbrella — understood to represent the actor Arashi Otohachi III
Occasion: Memorial sheet marking the death of Onoe Kikugorō IV, who died on the 28th day of the 6th month of Man'en 1 (1860) and was buried at Kōraku-ji temple, Imado, Asakusa; the inscribed verse is attributed to his haiku pen-name, Baifu (梅婦)
Date: 1860 (Man'en 1), 6th month
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and colour on paper
Format: Vertical ōban approx. 35*24 cm
____________________________________________________________________
Condition
Fair overall. Colour and impression are good throughout. The paper is fair — minor trimming, scattered soiling, some surface rubbing, and minor old repairs are present, with a small loss at the lower edge. The sheet remains firm and supple to the touch, with no brittleness.. Please check the images carefully!
____________________________________________________________________
About the Print
Shini-e — "death pictures" — were issued within days of a well-known actor's death, sold as instant memorial keepsakes for fans and fellow performers. They typically show the actor not on stage but in an imagined, often symbolic scene: dressed for the road to the afterlife, in the robes of a Buddhist pilgrim, or, as here, accompanied by a demon figure evoking the journey beyond this world. The inscribed death poem (jisei), the posthumous Buddhist name, the date and place of burial, and the actor's family crest are standard elements of the form, all present on this sheet.
Onoe Kikugorō IV (1808–1860) was one of the leading actors of the late Edo stage, admired for his range across villain, ghost, and female roles alike; his death in the summer of 1860 prompted a wave of memorial prints from several of the leading Utagawa-school designers, a number of which — signed and unsigned alike — are preserved today in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts' Bigelow Collection. This sheet, showing Kikugorō in a female role shadowed by a demon-masked companion, belongs to that same outpouring of tribute prints from the summer of 1860.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Edo Period (1600-1868)
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Height
37 cm
Width
25 cm
Title of artwork
Memorial Portrait (Shini-e) of Kabuki Actor Onoe Kikugorō IV — Death Print, Man'en 1 (1860)
Condition
Fair condition
Authenticity
Original/official
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