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SHIGEHARU, Ryûsai  (Osaka print artist) fl. 1803-1853)		From: Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety - Emperor Bun (Chinese: 'Liu Heng'
		Signed:       Ryûsai Shigeharu ga Date:           1829 Size:            ôban yoko-e (c. 26.5 x 38 cms / c. 10 3/8" x 15") Condition: FINE impression and color; near mint condition. - Very rare. ref. no.:  # 773350 - Sold -

Print from the series: Nijûshi-ko no uchi ('Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety'), depicting Emperor Bun (Chinese: 'Liu Heng', later known as Emperor Wen) of the Kan (Han) Dynasty. Emperor Wen was known for his filial piety to his mother, the Empress Dowager Bo. When she was ill he personally took care of her and paid careful attention to her needs. When medicine was served to her, he insisted on tasting it first to insure that it was safe for her to consume. The Osaka - Kyoto - Kobe area of Japan was called 'Kamigata' in the Edo period. The region had a much smaller population than the area around Edo (Toyko). The Ukiyo-e artists in Kamigata developed a unique style of their own, especially in the 'yakusha-e' (actor prints) style. The production numbers of these prints were much smaller and the quality of printing generally better than those of kabuki prints produced in Edo. Osaka print scholar, Dean J. Schwaab, mentioned this series in his acclaimed reference book, "Osaka Prints" (see below): "These subjects (the 'Twenty-Four Paragons') are frequently illustrated by Japanese print artists, but this may be the only set by an Osaka artist... Away from the conventions imposed by the theatre print and within the realm of Chinese tales, the artist used a style reminiscent of Hokusai or Kuniyoshi, and many of the designs are quite ingenius." - Reference: Dean J. Schwaab, "Osaka Prints"; London, 1989; pp. 246-247 (illustrating two other prints from the series).

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