Hirosada: Hideous Oiwa お岩 Dripping Blood (Sold)

Artist: Konishi Hirosada (ca. 1810-1864)
Date: 1848

Terrifically creepy scene of Oiwa from the play Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談). This is the famous "haircombing" (kamisuki) scene when  that she realizes that she has become horrifically disfigured by the poison fed to her by her evil husband. Her hair falls out in clumps and the blood pours from her hands onto the tipped-over screen. Behind her kneels Takuetsu, played by Ichikawa Sukejiro. The actor playing Oiwa may be Okawa Hashizo I, also known as Onoe Kikugoro III. Oiwa dies soon after this scene, becoming a ghost who haunts her husband's family and enacts her revenge. This work features deluxe, surimono-like printing, including blindprinting and hand-applied blood spatters. The signature and title have been printed in silver atop the deep black. A rather scarce design with a pivotal scene from Japan’s most famous ghost story.

Condition: Excellent impression; very good color and condition. Backed. Exquisitely printed.
Dimensions: chuban (25 x 18.2 cm)
Literature: See Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Achenbach Foundation and the Hankyu Culture Foundation. 

SKU: SPC019S