The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Shigenoi, the Wet Nurse 1794 (Kansei 6) woodcut, dark silver mica ground signed, Toshusai Sharaku ga published by Tsutaya Juzaburo (mark) censor's seal Kiwame (certified) oban-tate-e. These woodblocks were published in 1794, "during the fifth month of Kwansei 6",corresponding in our Western calendar to the month of June, precisely, on the fifth day and terminating on the seventh day of the seventh month"(Tokyo National Museum - 2011 -, p. 311). Insofar as the different states of printing, " we find that almost half the twenty-eight designs in more than one state,probably suggesting that continuing demand gave rise to reimpressions during most of the fall of 1794" (Tokyo National Museum, 2011., p. 312). As such, woodblocks of the first state carry a grey outline - and the second states, a dark outline (Henderson & Ledoux - 1939, p.90 - in reference to a woodblock of the same subject). In the same book, it must be pointed out that among the 105 woodblocks exhibited in Paris at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in 1911, first states of Sharaku's woodblocks were shown alongside second states and their artistic importance being given the same consideration. Additionally, as Henderson & Ledoux were to point out, p. 22), " the production of mica ground prints stops abruptly in the eighth month of 1794. The stoppage is known to have coincided with a government edict against further issuance of prints of that type". Bibliography Tokyo National Museum, 2011, p. 312: as regard the artist's signature: " In the portrait of the actor Otani Oniji III as Edobei, we usually find the signature bottom right, but it also appears top left". Henderson & Leroux, 1939, pp. 90-91, n. 19 Tokyo National Museum, 2011, p. 106, n. 55 15-1/4"h x 10"w. Provenance: Andreas Albeck, CEO United Artists Corporation, Los
Angeles

Folds, creases, losses to paint.