An excellent large full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "Actor Ichikawa Komazo as Shiga Daishichi" by Toshusai Sharaku. Comes from a rare Collection of 24 Masterpieces by Sharaku. Produced & published by Shuei-Sha, Tokyo, in September, 1964. Printers: Toppan Printing Co., LTD. Printed on one side. Attached at the top to a board of heavy textured paper, covered with lighter sheet of paper for protection, numbered 9 on the label on the front of the cover. Excellent condition - minor edge wear on the board, minor age wear on the cover, never framed, ready to be framed. Copy of the commentary by Dr. Kiyoshi Shibui and Mr. Sadao Kikuchi (below) in Japanese and English is included. Overall (folded) 12.50"W x 18.25"H Overall (unfolded) 25"W x 18.25"H Image 10"W x 15"H Commentary by Ukiyo-e Art consultant & editor Dr. Kiyoshi Shibui and Mr. Sadao Kikuchi: Signature: signed Toshusai Sharaku Printers: Tsutaya Juzaburo (with a seal) In the possession of Dr. Seiichiro Takahashi, Oiso This picture is so famous that it even comes out as a sign for a wine shop. The subject is actor Komazo in the role of villain Shiga Daishichi on whom the two sisters avenge their father's murder in the play "Vendetta Ferry Boat". Komazo became later Matsumoto Koshiro V. Because he had particularly a steep nose, he was nicknamed "High-nose Koshiro", which characteristic is ably captured in this portrait. The actor is dressed in solid black. A slight tinting in red, green and yellow here and there, emphasize the predominant black which is further reinforced by the black-mica background and the total effect produced is the cold menace of the number one villain in the Kabuki vendetta. This plate (woodblock print) is owned by Mr. Seiichi Takahashi but there are two other variations of this picture belonging respectively to the Matsukata collection stored by Tokyo National Museum and Kohei Okamoto. From this, one can surmise that SHARAKU's works were printed in a considerable numbers.