Description
KATSUKAWA SHUNWA (ACTIVE 1790-1830): ‘THE YUREI OF OIWA, YOTSUYA KAIDAN’ Japan, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Ink and watercolors on silk. Mounted as a hanging scroll, on partially fabric and gold thread-coated paper, with lacquered handles. Depicting the grim figure of the ghost of Oiwa holding an infant, clad in a white kyokatabira (the burial kimono), her pale face with the left eye drooping down the face, the partially bald head with long and ragged hair. Inscriptions: To the left margin, inscribed ‘Toto Katsukawa Shunwa ga’ 東都、勝川春和画 (‘Painted by Katsukawa Shunwa, The Eastern Capital (Edo/Tokyo)’). One seal, ‘Shunwa’ 春和. Inside the tomobako storage box is a paper label reading: ‘Katsukawa Shunwa, Yurei, Tourou (Doro)’, ‘A painting of a ghost, from the Botan Doro (Peony Lantern Ghost Story)’. Provenance: From a British private collection of Japanese paintings, mostly focusing on paintings of Yurei and other bakemono. Condition: Good condition with some wear, creases, small tears, and few touchups. The mounting with expected wear, traces of use, creasing, and folds. Image SIZE 47.3 x 26 cm, SIZE incl. mounting 129 x 35.3 cm With a tomobako storage box. (2) Yotsuya Kaidan is a classic Japanese ghost story that dates back to the 18th century. It revolves around the tragic and vengeful spirit of Oiwa, a woman who is wronged by her husband and ultimately becomes a malevolent ghost seeking revenge. The story is known for its themes of betrayal, supernatural elements, and the consequences of human actions. It has been adapted into various forms of Japanese literature, theater, and film and remains a prominent and influential piece of Japanese horror folklore. Katsukawa Shunwa, also known as Katsukawa Shuntei II was a Japanese painter and printmaker in the ukiyo-e style active between 1790-1830. He studied Katsukawa Shunshō at the Katsukawa school. His style followed that of the school’s founder, Miyagawa Shunsui. The Katsukawa school was a school of Japanese ukiyo-e art, founded in the mid-18th century. It specialized in paintings and prints of kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, and women. The school was created as the result of political oppression of the Kanō school of painting by the Tokugawa shogunate around 1750 and became popular during the end of the 18th century because of its portraits of famous actors. Unlike those of the Torii school, which were more stylized, Katsukawa portraits sought to express the individual identities and personalities of those depicted. Around 1800, however, the Utagawa school rose to prominence, replacing the Katsukawa in producing the most popular actor portraits. The school thus came to an end around 1840.
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KATSUKAWA SHUNWA (ACTIVE 1790-1830): ‘THE YUREI OF OIWA, YOTSUYA KAIDAN’ Japan, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Ink and watercolors on silk. Mounted as a hanging scroll, on partially fabric and gold thread-coated paper, with lacquered handles. Depicting the grim figure of the ghost of Oiwa holding an infant, clad in a white kyokatabira (the burial kimono), her pale face with the left eye drooping down the face, the partially bald head with long and ragged hair. Inscriptions: To the left margin, inscribed ‘Toto Katsukawa Shunwa ga’ 東都、勝川春和画 (‘Painted by Katsukawa Shunwa, The Eastern Capital (Edo/Tokyo)’). One seal, ‘Shunwa’ 春和. Inside the tomobako storage box is a paper label reading: ‘Katsukawa Shunwa, Yurei, Tourou (Doro)’, ‘A painting of a ghost, from the Botan Doro (Peony Lantern Ghost Story)’. Provenance: From a British private collection of Japanese paintings, mostly focusing on paintings of Yurei and other bakemono. Condition: Good condition with some wear, creases, small tears, and few touchups. The mounting with expected wear, traces of use, creasing, and folds. Image SIZE 47.3 x 26 cm, SIZE incl. mounting 129 x 35.3 cm With a tomobako storage box. (2) Yotsuya Kaidan is a classic Japanese ghost story that dates back to the 18th century. It revolves around the tragic and vengeful spirit of Oiwa, a woman who is wronged by her husband and ultimately becomes a malevolent ghost seeking revenge. The story is known for its themes of betrayal, supernatural elements, and the consequences of human actions. It has been adapted into various forms of Japanese literature, theater, and film and remains a prominent and influential piece of Japanese horror folklore. Katsukawa Shunwa, also known as Katsukawa Shuntei II was a Japanese painter and printmaker in the ukiyo-e style active between 1790-1830. He studied Katsukawa Shunshō at the Katsukawa school. His style followed that of the school’s founder, Miyagawa Shunsui. The Katsukawa school was a school of Japanese ukiyo-e art, founded in the mid-18th century. It specialized in paintings and prints of kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, and women. The school was created as the result of political oppression of the Kanō school of painting by the Tokugawa shogunate around 1750 and became popular during the end of the 18th century because of its portraits of famous actors. Unlike those of the Torii school, which were more stylized, Katsukawa portraits sought to express the individual identities and personalities of those depicted. Around 1800, however, the Utagawa school rose to prominence, replacing the Katsukawa in producing the most popular actor portraits. The school thus came to an end around 1840.
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