Shunbaisai Hokuei

Signatures of Shunbaisai Hokuei reading from left to right: “Shunkōsai Hokuei” (春江斎　北英), “Sekkarō Hokuei ga” (雪花楼　北英　画), and “Shunkō ga” (春江　画)

Keisei Ura no Asagin Woodblock print by Shunkôsai Hokuei. The play "Keisei Ura no Asagin" describes an unsuccessful attempt by a villain named Karahashi, a subject of the Aboshi clan, to steal the clan treasures and install his son as leader. In act 3, Kowari Dennai, a hunter who is a relative of the true heir, is traveling to the Aboshi domains to settle the succession. Arashi Rikan II plays Kowari Dennai.

Shunbaisai Hokuei (春梅斎 北英), who is also known as Shunkō III, was a designer of ukiyo-e style Japanese woodblock prints in Osaka who was active from about 1824 to 1837. He was a student of Shunkōsai Hokushū. Hokuei’s prints most often portray the kabuki actor Arashi Rikan II, and the quality of these designs and printing is remarkable. Hokuei died in 1837.

Shunbaisai Hokuei should not be confused with Tōkōen Hokuei (桃幸園 北英), an early 19th century Edo (Tokyo) printmaker who is also commonly referred to as “Hokuei”.

References

• Keyes, Roger S. & Keiko Mizushima, The Theatrical World of Osaka Prints, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1973, 265.
• Lane, Richard. (1978). Images from the Floating World, The Japanese Print. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 10-ISBN 0192114476/13-ISBN 9780192114471; OCLC 5246796
• Newland, Amy Reigle. (2005). Hotei Encyclopedia of Japanese Woodblock Prints. Amsterdam: Hotei. 10-ISBN 9074822657/13-ISBN 9789074822657; OCLC 61666175
• Roberts, Laurance P. (1976). A Dictionary of Japanese Artists. New York: Weatherhill. 10-ISBN 0834801132/13-ISBN 9780834801134; OCLC 2005932