{"product_id":"actor-ichikawa-ebizo-as-kamakura-no-gondayu-toshusai-sharaku","title":"Actor Ichikawa Ebizō as Kamakura no Gondayū - Tōshūsai Sharaku","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking 1794 woodblock portrait by Tōshūsai Sharaku, capturing the kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizō with characteristic psychological intensity and graphic precision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicts the kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizō in the role of Kamakura no Gondayū, a character from the play Otokoyama Oedo no Ishizue, performed at the Kiri-za theatre in 1794. Sharaku is known for his brief but intense period of activity in the mid-1790s, during which he produced a series of actor portraits that departed from the idealised conventions of his contemporaries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike the standard ukiyo-e portraits of the era, which often smoothed over the features of performers, Sharaku employed a style of caricature that emphasised the specific physical traits and psychological intensity of the actors. In this print, the subject is rendered with a distinct profile, his features captured with precise, clean lines against a neutral mica background. The composition focuses on the upper torso and head, allowing the viewer to observe the elaborate hairstyle, the decorative hairpins, and the patterned kimono. The use of a mica ground, or kirazuri, provides a subtle, shimmering quality that elevates the print beyond a simple theatrical record.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSharaku’s approach to portraiture was unconventional for the period. His work often provoked mixed reactions from the public, as he did not shy away from portraying the actors with a degree of unflattering realism. This specific print demonstrates his ability to balance the graphic requirements of a theatrical poster with a keen observation of human expression. The bold application of colour, particularly the deep red of the garment and the gold accents of the hair ornaments, creates a visual rhythm that guides the eye across the figure. This print remains a primary example of the artist's brief, ten-month career, during which he produced over one hundred prints that continue to be studied for their departure from the established norms of the Edo period.\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=\"\/en-nz\/products\/the-moon-viewing-promontory-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;\"\u003eThe Moon-Viewing Promontory - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/street-performer-in-edo-utagawa-kuniyoshi\" 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;\"\u003eStreet Performer in Edo - Utagawa Kuniyoshi — Utagawa Kuniyoshi\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Tōshūsai Sharaku","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58518088712527,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58518088778063,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58518088876367,"sku":null,"price":290.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58518088909135,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58518088974671,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Actor-Ichikawa-Ebiz-as-Kamakura-no-Gonday-_Poster_CompositorV1_1786467638269.jpg?v=1787149058","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/en-nz\/products\/actor-ichikawa-ebizo-as-kamakura-no-gondayu-toshusai-sharaku","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}