Every Shunsen print from the 36-actor series and the supplemental 15-print series (1929–1931) was limited to ~150 copies, making all original Watanabe impressions inherently scarce. Mica backgrounds and vivid color are key condition criteria that separate first from later impressions.
Ichikawa Chusha VII is depicted in the role of Kiichi Hogen, the legendary general and strategist who appears in several kabuki plays. Dating from around 1936, this print shows Shunsen's mature style at its most refined: mica and embossing lend the surface a sophisticated luminosity, while the palette of deep indigo and ochre anchors the figure in the specific visual world of jidaimono historical drama. Chusha's renowned skill in aragoto rough-style roles is reflected in the forcefulness of the composition, even as Shunsen ensures that individual character remains legible beneath the theatrical exaggeration.
1927
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
歌舞伎
Woodblock print
1955
Woodblock print
1928
Color lithograph
1930
Color lithograph
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Actor Ichikawa Chūsha VII as Kiichi Hōgen was created by Natori Shunsen (名取春仙) in c. 1936.
Actor Ichikawa Chūsha VII as Kiichi Hōgen was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (c. 1936).
Actor Ichikawa Chūsha VII as Kiichi Hōgen depicts kabuki.
Actor Ichikawa Chūsha VII as Kiichi Hōgen measures 42.6 × 28.3 cm (Oban format).