Description:

Hayakawa Sessue

Sessue Hayakawa, the Japanese Rudolph Valentino, Signed Bilingual Photo

 

Gelatin silver print photograph of Kintaro Hayakawa (1886-1973), known professionally as Sessue Hayakawa, with a bilingual signature and inscription at lower right as "Sincerely yours / Sessue Hayakawa" above several Japanese characters. The name of the California-based photo studio "C. Henry Anderson" appears in stone at lower left. The portrait probably dates from the late 1910s or early 1920s, during the height of Hayakawa's Hollywood career. An unusual signed photo featuring both English and Japanese! With expected wear including minor silvering, a few wrinkles, and isolated foxing verso, else very good to near fine. 7.5" x 9.5".

 

Japanese movie actor Sessue Hayakawa always had a flair for the dramatic; after failing his physical exam for admittance into the Imperial Japanese Navy at age 18, he attempted ritual suicide. Upon recovering, Hayakawa attended the University of Chicago and began acting in Los Angeles's Little Tokyo. He quickly became a widely acknowledged sexpot of the Rudolph Valentino variety. Hayakawa was one of the highest paid leading male actors of the Silent Era, thanks to his looks, his exoticism, and his understated acting style, this last which drew influences from Asian philosophy. Racism forced Hayakawa's retreat from Hollywood until his triumphant return in 1949's Tokyo Joe and 1957 Bridge Over the River Kwai.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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