Japanese Woodblock Print, full title "The Ghost of Kohada Koheiji," from the series "One Hundred Ghost Stories" was originally published c.1831-2, this is a later edition published from recarved woodblocks.

SIZE IN INCHES: chuban, 7.75 x 11.5 inches

COMMENTS: Kohada Koheiji was an actor, believed to have lived in Edo in the 1700s. His wife had an affair, and then conspired with her boyfriend to kill Koheiji. Koheiji became a ghost and haunted them, eventually killing his wife, and causing her lover to go mad and kill himself. This story later was written as a novel by Santo Kyoden in 1807, also made to be several Kabuki plays including the one by Tsuriya Nanboku in 1808, the other by Suzuki Senzaburo in 1925.In this print the skeletal ghost of Kohada Koheiji peers in over the top of the mosquito net pulled down by his bony hands. Mysterious spirit flames emanate from below.

KATSUSHIKA HOKUSAI (1760-1849), who also used the names Shunro, Sori, Kako, Taito, Gakyojin, Iitsu, and Manji, was a Japanese master artist and printmaker of the ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world) school. His early works represent the full spectrum of ukiyo-e art, including single sheet prints of landscapes and actors, hand paintings, and surimono (printed things), such as greetings and announcements. Later he concentrated on the classical themes of the samurai and Chinese subjects. His famous print series “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji,” published between 1826 and 1833, marked the summit in the history of the Japanese landscape print.

Fine, no flaws