{"product_id":"actors-nakajima-wadaemon-and-nakamura-konozo-toshusai-sharaku","title":"Actors Nakajima Wadaemon and Nakamura Konozō - Tōshūsai Sharaku","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking 1794 woodblock print by Tōshūsai Sharaku, capturing the intense, expressive faces of two kabuki actors in a classic ōkubi-e portrait.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicts two kabuki actors, Nakajima Wadaemon and Nakamura Konozō, in their respective roles as Bōdara Chōzaemon and Gon of the Kanagawa-ya. Produced in 1794, the work belongs to a series of large-head portraits (ōkubi-e) that captured the intense, often exaggerated expressions of performers at the Kiri-za theatre in Edo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSharaku is known for his departure from the idealised beauty common in contemporary ukiyo-e. Instead, he focused on the psychological state of the actor, using sharp, angular lines and stark contrasts to convey character. In this composition, the two figures are positioned in close proximity, their facial features rendered with a focus on the grotesque and the expressive. The actor on the left, Nakajima Wadaemon, displays a grimace, while the figure on the right, Nakamura Konozō, leans in with a look of concern or suspicion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe use of a mica background (kirazuri) adds a subtle, shimmering quality to the print, which was a hallmark of Sharaku's early work. The colour palette is restrained, relying on muted tones of red, grey, and off-white to direct the viewer's attention to the actors' faces and gestures. The composition is flat, typical of the period, yet the overlapping forms create a sense of immediate, dramatic tension.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSharaku's career was brief, spanning only ten months in 1794 and 1795. Despite this short period, his output remains a significant record of the kabuki theatre culture of the late eighteenth century. His approach to portraiture rejected the standardisation of the time, offering a raw, unflinching look at the performers who entertained the urban population of Edo. This print provides a clear example of his ability to distil the essence of a theatrical performance into a single, static image.\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\/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\u003ca href=\"\/products\/jo-and-uba-of-takasago-looking-at-the-rising-sun-totoya-hokkei\" 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;\"\u003eJo and Uba of Takasago Looking at the Rising Sun - Totoya Hokkei — Totoya Hokkei\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Tōshūsai Sharaku","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58517692383567,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58517738815823,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58517738848591,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58517738881359,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58517738914127,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58517738946895,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58517738979663,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58517739012431,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58517739045199,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58517739077967,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58517739110735,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58517739143503,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Actors-Nakajima-Wadaemon-and-Nakamura-Konoz-_Poster_CompositorV1_1786465928877.jpg?v=1787146543","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/actors-nakajima-wadaemon-and-nakamura-konozo-toshusai-sharaku","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}