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JAPANESE KABUKI THEATRE

Kabuki is a traditional form of Japanese theatre founded in the Edo period (1603-1868). By the 1930’s it had developed into a sophisticated and highly stylized form. The world of Kabuki is a sealed world that could only to be entered if one was born into an acting family, or eimoto, where the head of the acting ‘house’ is the main actor, or teacher. Because of edicts passed in the Edo period, only males may act in Kabuki, leading to the world of onnagata actors, or female impersonators.
Alexandre Iacouleff was born in St. Petersburg in 1887, the son of a naval officer. He went on voyages to Mongolia, Japan and China recording his journey with watercolours and pastel artworks. He went to Shanghai in 1918, and in 1920 to Paris and London, exhibiting work revealing the influences of his extensive travels. In the latter half of the Ninteenth century Japanese art and society had a huge influence on the European art world. Here Iacouleff's intriguing illustrations of that mysterous world of theatre, shows that influence interpreted by the ART DECO environment of the 1930's.
Within a very short time the pastel colours of the Art Nouveau style had given way to a new style that emphasised angular geometric shapes, crisp vibrant colours, refined detailing and superb craftsmanship. Today this new form of design is referred to as “Art Deco”, A term first used in the mid-1920s to describe designs typical of the leading French artists and designers who exhibited their work in the famous ‘Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes’, held in Paris in 1925.
Alexandre Iacoulef’s Japanese Kabuki illustrations are a wonderful example of this use of design and colour.

Original heliogravures after the work of Alexandre Iacouleff Published Paris 1938
Size print 28cm x 38cm
Condition = All in excellent condition
Price = AUD$230 each

'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 1)

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"The Principal animator of theatre marionettes, Bunrakuza, maneuvers one of the dolls. He manipulates the formal costumed doll from the shoulders. The Doll represents Tonase, a female member of the Kakagawa Honzo, journeying to Kyoto. This scene is from the well-known play Chusningura" SOLD

'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 2)

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"Onoue Kikugoro in the role of a busy wife, sewa-nyobo-gata. The actress is in a food market with hair brushed back (a wig) and with the use of the yaraboshi, accessory headband, characteristic of this character part"
SOLD

 'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 6)

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"Kataoka Chiyo-no-suke in the role of a city-dweller chonin of the era of the Tokugawa. His hairstyle, a signature of this ear, carries the style name of chon-mage

 'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 7.)

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"Ichikawa Udanji in the role of Sawaichi, the blind messenger of the piece "Miracle of the Temple Tsubosaka". Ichikawa Sandanji in a role of convict.

'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 8)

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"Kataoks Nizaemon and Onoué Usaburo in men of the people. They typify people known as sewamono
'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 9.)

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"The actor Ichikawa Chusha interpretation of the role of warrior rebel Akechi Mitsuhide in the play Ehon-Taikoki. The hair, the thick-brow, the makeup of eye and of the mouth define the violent character of the person. The squinting is appropriate for the ‘concentration’ in the final monologue.
Ume no Yoshibei is the principal character of the tragic "Sumida no Hatsu Geisha Katagi"

 'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 10).

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"Matsumoto Koshiro in the role of Benkeien, ina costume of a Buddist hermit, Yama-bushi, in the piece "Kanjincho". His look strikes down the demonic apparition of Tairo-no-Tomomori that it will hunt with the aid of the god Fudo. Kataoka Nizaemon in the role of the hero of the piece, Tojin-banashi"

 'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 12)

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"Nakamura Utaemoni in the role of a young bride, with hair traditionally brushed back in a comb, for the ceremony of marriage."
SOLD		 'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 22.).

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"Role of Benten Kozo Kikunosuke, dressed as a female thief and carrying wig. He challenges the salesmen of the house, Hamamatsu-ya, that has discovered him in the act. The Kimono disguise has fallen, leaves revealing his tattoos."		 'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 24)

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"Onoue Kirkugoro in the role of Tatsugoro, vigorous and faithful otoko-date, leader of a high profile organisation. He is the principal character in the play Magumi No Kenka in which he must resolve a building conflict with an equally powerful organisation. "
SOLD
'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938'

Plate 25)

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"Episode of the play, Gion-sairei Shinchoki. Here we see a dramatic scene where the Yuki-hime, lover of the artist Kano, is tied to a big cherry by the cruel Matsunaga Hisahide. She succeeds in using her foot to trace a picture of a mouse. The picture takes the form of a real mouse that gnaws the rope to free the beautiful victim. THE actor must dance with arms secured, and is supported by in the difficult moments, by "shadows", kurombo, that have their faces cover with black cloth"

 original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938

Plate 26)

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"The actors Fuusuke and Mitsugoro dance the Dance of the Lions, known as Renjishi. The two dancers pose in the traditional style in the final stage of the choreography with the hands positioned just prior the end of the modeling phase."
SOLD

 'original heliogravure illustrating kabuki theatre after Alexandre Iacouleff, Published Paris, 1938

Plate 31).

LE THEATRE JAPONAIS. Alexandre Iacouleff:

"In the role of a courtisan, we are shown the traditional hair pin decoration, Kanzashi, that compliments and overlays the neckline of the Kimono"
SOLD