<b>THE HEROINE UMEKAWA</b> / Kitano Tsunetomi1923<B>SOLD</B></em>

Details

In this well-known depiction, Tsunetomi portrays the Heron Maiden from the widely recognized kabuki play with the same title. The play, derived from a traditional tale, narrates the story of a young man who comes across an injured heron and tends to its wounds. Subsequently, he releases it. He falls in love with a charming girl, and they eventually marry. Sustaining themselves by selling the exquisite fabric woven by the woman, she consistently cautions her husband against observing her while she works. Despite the warning, the young man's curiosity prevails, leading him to discover that his wife is the white heron he had healed. Upon being caught, the heron transforms back into her human form. However, now that her true identity is exposed, she must depart. As she leaves, she metamorphoses into a heron and takes flight. The narrative concludes in a manner typical of many plays, with the Heron Maiden succumbing to a broken heart.

In this work, Tsunetomi presents the Heron Maiden encased in a series of boxes, echoing the format of a kakemono (scroll). The inner inset presents the Heron Maiden in close proximity to the viewer. Her beautifully fragile face is slightly set downward, with her eyes cast toward some remote locale. Her subtle expression suggests a solemn resignation with a touch of melancholy. Her arm, dressed in a thick winter kimono, is pressed against her face, guarding from the large falling snow fakes. Tsunetomi instills a sense of mystery in his design by presenting the Heron Maiden with her face mostly obscured, perhaps suggesting the complexity and otherworldliness of her identity.

Connoisseur's Note

This print is from the supplement of 'Dai Chikamatsu Zenshu' (The Complete Works of Chikamatsu). It was self-published in 1923. The print contains a silver mica background, and the snowflakes that populate the composition are hand-applied gofun (white pigment from pulverized seashells). This impression is an excellent example of the design. Exhibiting fresh, untouched colors, the print looks like it could have been created today.