{"product_id":"actor-tanimura-torazo-as-washizuka-happeiji-toshusai-sharaku","title":"Actor Tanimura Torazō as Washizuka Happeiji - Tōshūsai Sharaku","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking 1794 woodblock print by Tōshūsai Sharaku, capturing the intense expression of kabuki actor Tanimura Torazō in a classic theatrical role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicts the kabuki actor Tanimura Torazō in the role of Washizuka Happeiji. Produced in 1794, the work belongs to a brief, ten-month period during which the artist was active in the Edo print market. Sharaku is known for his unconventional approach to the yakusha-e (actor print) genre, often choosing to exaggerate facial features rather than idealise the subject.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition focuses on the upper torso and head of the actor, set against a mica-dusted grey background. This technique, known as kira-e, provides a metallic sheen that separates the figure from the flat plane. The actor's expression is one of intense concentration, with eyes widened and mouth set in a firm line. Sharaku uses bold, sweeping lines to define the contours of the kimono and the actor's posture, while the facial features are rendered with a stark, almost caricatured precision. The colour palette remains restrained, relying on ochre, black, and white to maintain focus on the psychological state of the character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSharaku's work differs from his contemporaries who typically portrayed actors with smooth, youthful features. Instead, he captures the specific physical traits of the performer, including the texture of the skin and the tension in the neck muscles. This print is part of a series documenting performances at the Kawarazaki-za theatre. The inclusion of the actor's crest on the kimono provides a specific identification for the viewer, linking the print to the theatrical culture of the Edo period. The print demonstrates a departure from traditional portraiture, favouring a direct, unvarnished representation of the kabuki stage.\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":58517979693391,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58517979758927,"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":58517979857231,"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":58517979889999,"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":58517979955535,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Actor-Tanimura-Toraz-as-Washizuka-Happeiji_Poster_CompositorV1_1786467274828.jpg?v=1787148591","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/en-nz\/products\/actor-tanimura-torazo-as-washizuka-happeiji-toshusai-sharaku","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}