Artist: Tadamasa Ueno (1904-1970)
Title: Sakata Kintoki (Kumadori Ju-hachi Ban*-Makeup for Kintoki)
Date: 1940
Edition: 1st Edition, Dai-oban Woodblock Print
Sig./Seal: Red Torii Seal, Watanabe Shozaburo Pub. C Seal 1929-1942
Condition: Very good, supple paper
Size: 20.5 x 14.5 $495
*Kumadori Ju-hachi Ban (Theatrical Makeup for Eighteen Famous Kabuki Plays by the Ichikawa). "Akanuri Suji Kuma" ( lined makeup on the red base) which is used for the role, Sakata Kintoki.
Tadamasa Ueno, originally named Ueno Katsumi, was born in 1904. He trained in the art of printmaking under Torii Kyotada (1875–1941), also known as Torii VII. The Torii family holds a distinguished legacy as ukiyo-e painters and printmakers, tracing their origins back to the seventeenth century. Ueno adopted the artist name "Tadamasa," incorporating the syllable "tada" from his master's name, "Kyotada."
From Tadamasa Ueno to Tadamasa Torii
In 1949, the Torii family honored Tadamasa Ueno by granting him the right to adopt their family name, thus becoming Tadamasa Torii. This marked a significant milestone in his career, aligning him with one of the most prestigious ukiyo-e lineages in history.
In 1940, Tadamasa initiated this remarkable series titled Kabuki kumadori juhachi ban ("Eighteen Kabuki Makeups"), intending to release one print each month. However, the series was discontinued after seven prints. The Pacific War brought material shortages and a decline in public interest, as wartime priorities overshadowed cultural and artistic pursuits such as kabuki and ukiyo-e.
After World War II, Tadamasa Torii remained an active contributor to the kabuki genre. He created billboard posters for kabuki theaters and released two notable series in 1952:
- Kabuki juhachi-ban - Eighteen Kabuki Plays by the Ichikawa Family.
- Kabuki juhachiban-no-uchi - One of Eighteen Kabuki Plays.
These post-war series were published by Shokokusha and Dairesha, reflecting Tadamasa's enduring passion for kabuki art and culture.