YUGIRI OF THE OGIYA AND FUJIYA IZAEMON (OGIYA YUGIRI, FUJIYA IZAEMON)

Details

KITAGAWA UTAMARO (1853?-1806)
YUGIRI OF THE OGIYA AND FUJIYA IZAEMON (OGIYA YUGIRI, FUJIYA IZAEMON)
Woodblock print, from the series True Feelings Compared: The Founts of Love (Jitsu kurabe iro no minakami), published by Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudo), circa 1798-99
Vertical oban (37.4 x 24.5 cm.)

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Sale Room Notice

Please note the date for this lot should read (1753? - 1806) and not as printed in the catalogue.

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Lot Essay

Depicted here is the most famous scene from a play featuring the high-ranking courtesan Yugiri of the Ogiya brothel in Osaka, and her handsome lover Izaemon. Izaemon has been disinherited and visits Yugiri in a destitute state. His head hangs forwards whilst he plays the shamisen, behind him Yugiri is on the point of tears.

For another impression in the collections of The British Museum, museum no. 1924,0115,0.27, go to:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=784550&partId=1

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