Japanese Woodblock Print, 1940, 1st Edition, published by Shozaburo Watanabe, with the publishers "E" seal (used 1932-1942). Full title is Kumadori Ju-hachi Ban or Fox Makeup

SIZE IN INCHES: oban, 10.25 x 15.5 inches

COMMENTS: "Kumadori Ju-hachi Ban" (Theatrical Makeup for Eighteen Famous Kabuki Plays by the Ichikawa). "Kitsune no Kuma" (Fox Makeup) for the role, Fox Tadanobu, in the play "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". This is one of "kemono-guma" (animal makeup) .

TADAMASA UENO (1904-1970) was born in 1904 under the name Ueno Katsumi. Ueno apprenticed in the art of printmaking under Torii Kyotada (1875-1941), also known as Torii VII. The Torii family boasts a rich lineage of ukiyo-e painters and printmakers dating back to the seventeenth century. Ueno was bestowed with his artist name, Tadamasa, incorporating the syllable "tada" from his master's name, "Kyotada."

In 1949, the Torii family granted permission for Tadamasa to adopt the prestigious name Torii, thus becoming Tadamasa Torii.

During 1940, the artist commenced a series published by Shozaburo Watanabe entitled Kabuki kumadori juhachi ban - Eighteen Kabuki Makeups, intending one print per month. Subsequently, another series, Zoku kumadori juhachiban, was planned but abandoned after seven prints due to the challenges imposed by the Pacific War. Following World War II, Torii Tadamasa continued his active involvement in the kabuki genre. He contributed to kabuki theaters by designing billboard posters and released two series in 1952 that were published by Shokokush and Dairesha.

Fine, no flaws