{"product_id":"ichikawa-ebizo-iv-as-takemura-sadanoshin-toshusai-sharaku","title":"Ichikawa Ebizō IV as Takemura Sadanoshin - Tōshūsai Sharaku","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking 1794 woodblock portrait by Tōshūsai Sharaku, capturing the kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizō IV with the artist's signature expressive, non-idealised style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicts the kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizō IV in the role of Takemura Sadanoshin. Produced in 1794, the work belongs to a brief, ten-month period during which Sharaku was active as a printmaker. His career remains one of the most enigmatic chapters in the history of Japanese art, as he appeared suddenly in the publishing scene and vanished just as quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSharaku is known for his departure from the idealised portraits common in the ukiyo-e tradition. Instead of smoothing over the features of his subjects, he employed a style of caricature that exaggerated the physical traits of the actors. In this portrait, the actor's nose, jawline, and intense gaze are rendered with sharp, deliberate lines. The composition is an ōkubi-e, or large-head picture, which focuses the viewer's attention entirely on the actor's expression and psychological state. The background is a mica-dusted grey, a technique that provides a metallic, reflective quality to the print, separating the figure from the space behind him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe actor wears a kimono decorated with geometric patterns, which contrast with the fluid, expressive lines of his face. The colour palette is restrained, relying on muted oranges, greys, and off-whites to maintain focus on the actor's dramatic persona. This print captures a specific moment of performance, reflecting the tension and artifice of the Edo-period theatre. Sharaku's approach was often criticised by his contemporaries for its lack of flattery, yet it provides a direct, unvarnished look at the performers of the time. This print is a representative example of his ability to capture the essence of a character through distortion and precise line work.\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":"Sharaku","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58518742073679,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58518781002063,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58518781034831,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58518781067599,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58518781100367,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58518781133135,"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":58518781165903,"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":58518781198671,"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":58518781231439,"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":58518781264207,"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":58518781296975,"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":58518781329743,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Ichikawa-Ebiz-IV-as-Takemura-Sadanoshin_Poster_CompositorV1_1786469046928.jpg?v=1787150589","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/ichikawa-ebizo-iv-as-takemura-sadanoshin-toshusai-sharaku","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}