Beneath a silvery moon, partially eclipsed by cloud, the actor Arashi Koroku IV, seated wearing elaborate robes, pauses in the composition of his farewell poem. This exquisite composition appears to be previously unknown. Hokushu designed two other shini-e for Koroku, but neither has the refined elegance displayed in this design.
Shunkōsai Hokushū , who is also known as Shunkō IV, was a designer of ukiyo-e style Japanese woodblock prints in Osaka who was active from about 1802 to 1832. He is known to have been a student of Shōkōsai Hambei, and may have also studied with Hokusai. He used the name Shunkō until 1818, when he changed his name to “Shunkōsai Hokushū”. He was the most important artist in Osaka during the 1810-20s and established the Osaka style of actor prints.
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