Kitagawa Utamaro (1754-1806), a print from the series "Emulation in the Source of True Love" (Jitsu kurabe iro no Minakami) Nishiki-e print, ink and pigments on paper, ōban tate e format, the plate Kamiya Jihei and Kinokuniya Koharu. Inspired by a true story from 1720, the lovers Koharu and Jihei became the heroes of a famous drama retold in bunraku puppet theater and kabuki. A married merchant from Ôsaka and a prostitute from the Kinokuniya house in the Sonezaki Shinchi pleasure district commit suicide together at Daichô-ji temple in Amijima. The print shows their nocturnal death march, suggested by the gray background. Jihei illuminates the road with a lantern, while Koharu pulls her black veil over her face. Circa 1798-1799. Signed Utamaro Hitsu. Publisher Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudo). Kiwame censorship stamp. 38.1 x 25.8 cm Heavily lined, traces of restoration, wormholes repaired, stains, darkened.