JAPANESE ART > KUCHI-E WOODBLOCK PRINTS > UXORICIDE

Lot 00623
N.1 kuchi-e woodblock print

Mishima Shoso

UXORICIDE

Year: 1895
Condition: very good
Size: 28 x 22,5 cm

SOLD

In occupied Taiwan, the Japanese colonial governor is led to believe, by an envious subordinate officer, that his wife is having an affair with another officer. In a fit of jealousy the governor, whom we see depicted here approaching his unaware victim with a knife hidden behind his back, will kill his wife. When he finally realizes the woman's innocence, he will decide to repair his crime by taking his own life.

The fine kuchi-e (口絵) woodblock print was made by the artist Mishima Shoso (三島蕉窓) as the frontispiece of the novel "Nyobo Goroshi" (女房殺し), that is "Uxoricide", one of the most notable works of the writer Emi Suiin (江見水蔭), published in vol. 1 n. 10 of the literary magazine Bungei Kurabu (文芸倶楽部).

The print, produced in October 1895 by the Hakubunkan (博文館) publishing house, despite the obvious gluing residue visible on the back, on the front is in very good general condition.

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