{"title":"Utagawa Kuniaki Ii","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"act-vii-dai-nanadanme-utagawa-kuniaki-ii","title":"Act VII (Dai nanadanme) - Utagawa Kuniaki II","description":"\u003cp\u003eA traditional Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniaki II, depicting actors Kataoka Nizaemon VIII and Sawamura Tanosuke in a scene from the Kanadehon Chūshingura.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniaki II depicts a scene from the seventh act of the classic Kabuki play, Kanadehon Chūshingura. The narrative follows the historical vendetta of the forty-seven ronin. In this specific composition, the actor Kataoka Nizaemon VIII portrays the character Ōboshi Yuranosuke, while Sawamura Tanosuke appears as the woman Okaru. The print captures a moment of dramatic tension between the two figures, rendered with the characteristic line work and colour palette of the late Edo period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKuniaki II, a student of Utagawa Kunisada, maintains the stylistic conventions of the Utagawa school. The figures occupy a shallow stage space, framed by a decorative border of triangles. The background features a stylised representation of Mount Fuji, which provides a sense of place while remaining secondary to the theatrical subjects. The kimono worn by Okaru displays a floral pattern, executed with precision to contrast against the more subdued, solid-coloured garments of Yuranosuke. The use of cartouches for text provides context for the scene, a standard practice in Japanese printmaking to inform the viewer of the play and the actors involved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work is a representative example of the actor print genre, or yakusha-e. These prints functioned as both promotional material for the theatre and as collectable items for fans of the Kabuki stage. The composition balances the individual characterisations of the actors with the requirements of the narrative. The print demonstrates the technical skill involved in multi-block printing, where each colour is applied via a separate carved woodblock. The preservation of the original lines and the clarity of the printed colours allow for an examination of the aesthetic priorities of the mid-nineteenth century Japanese print market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/evening-glow-at-ryogoku-bridge-keisai-eisen\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eEvening Glow at Ryogoku Bridge - Keisai Eisen — Keisai Eisen\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bamboo-quay-by-kyobashi-bridge-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eBamboo Quay by Kyōbashi Bridge - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Utagawa Kuniaki II","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59031096951119,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59031115792719,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59031115825487,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59031115858255,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59031115891023,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59031115923791,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59031115956559,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59031115989327,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59031116022095,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59031116054863,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59031116087631,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59031116120399,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Act-VII-Dai-nanadanme-_Poster_CompositorV1_1791334763673.jpg?v=1791336525"},{"product_id":"act-viii-actors-bando-hikosaburo-v-as-tonase-and-sawamura-tossho-ii-as-konami-utagawa-kuniaki-ii","title":"Act VIII: Actors Bandō Hikosaburō V as Tonase and Sawamura Tosshō II as Konami - Utagawa Kuniaki II","description":"\u003cp\u003eA traditional Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniaki II depicting kabuki actors Bandō Hikosaburō V and Sawamura Tosshō II in a scene from the classic play Kanadehon Chūshingura.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniaki II depicts a scene from the eighth act of the celebrated kabuki play Kanadehon Chūshingura, or The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers. The composition features two actors, Bandō Hikosaburō V and Sawamura Tosshō II, portraying the characters Tonase and her daughter Konami. The print belongs to the yakusha-e genre, which focuses on the depiction of kabuki actors in their roles, a popular subject for nineteenth-century Japanese audiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKuniaki II employs a flat, graphic style characteristic of the late Edo period. The figures are positioned against a stylised backdrop featuring a faint outline of Mount Fuji and pine trees, which provides a sense of location without depth. The actors wear elaborate kimono patterns, rendered with precise lines and a controlled colour palette. Tonase is dressed in a purple garment adorned with floral motifs, while Konami wears a deep blue robe with red accents. The entire scene is framed by a distinctive triangular border pattern, a common decorative element in prints of this era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a member of the Utagawa school, Kuniaki II followed the conventions established by his predecessors, focusing on the dramatic gestures and facial expressions of the performers. The print serves as a visual record of a specific theatrical performance, capturing the costumes and characterisations of the time. The inclusion of the actors' names and the play title within the cartouche provides context for the viewer, identifying the specific roles and the narrative arc of the Chūshingura story. This work offers a glimpse into the intersection of theatre and print culture in Japan, where the popularity of kabuki was mirrored by the mass production of these colourful, informative images.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-actor-segawa-kikunojo-ii-as-the-courtesan-umegae-suzuki-harunobu\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the Courtesan Umegae - Suzuki Harunobu — Suzuki Harunobu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mountains-and-rivers-along-the-kisokaido-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eMountains and Rivers Along the Kisokaidō - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Utagawa Kuniaki II","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59051181965647,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59051623383375,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59051623416143,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59051623448911,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59051623481679,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59051623514447,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59051623547215,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59051623579983,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59051623612751,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59051623645519,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59051623678287,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59051623711055,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Act-VIII_-Actors-Band-Hikosabur-V-as-Tonase-and-Sawamura-Tossh-II-as-Konami_Poster_CompositorV1_1791419972130.jpg?v=1791420491"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/collections\/utagawa-kuniaki-ii.oembed","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}