Posted by Philippe Callier on December 09, 1998 at 23:30:32:
In Reply to: Re: Kakihan ("written seal, signature") posted by Hans olof on December 08, 1998 at 04:08:49:
: Philippe:
: Inspired by John's Osaka excursion, I leafed through a couple of books and came up with another artist's kakihan:
:
: It's a "pine needle" mark used by Shôkôsai (Keyes & Mizushima: The Theatrical World of Osaka Prints, Philadelphia 1973, plate 4.
Hans Olof, John:
Thank you for this wealth of information. My inventory of prints bearing the kakihan of the designer increased already by 50 % (to six examples - all apparently from the second half of the 18th century)! I gather that the kakihan may represent, in a stylized way, a symbol (the "pine needle" of Shôkôsai, the "eyeball" of Baigyoku, the "butterfly" of the portrait of Ichikawa Yonezô IV. Any idea what the kakihan of Toyokuni (illustrated in Hans Olof message of Dec. 7) may represent (if anything) ?
Regards,
Philippe