{"product_id":"kabuki-actors-asao-yujiro-and-ichikawa-ebijuro-i-shunkosai-hokushu","title":"Kabuki Actors Asao Yūjirō and Ichikawa Ebijūrō I - Shunkōsai Hokushū","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Shunkōsai Hokushū, capturing the dramatic intensity of two Kabuki actors in their stage roles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Shunkōsai Hokushū depicts two prominent Kabuki actors, Asao Yūjirō and Ichikawa Ebijūrō I, in their respective roles for the play Keisei Sano no Funabashi. Hokushū was a leading figure in the Kamigata school of printmaking, based in the Osaka region. His work is recognised for its focus on the dramatic intensity of the theatre, moving away from the more idealised portraits common in Edo-period prints.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition employs the yakusha-e style, which focuses on the actor as the primary subject. The figures are rendered with sharp, expressive lines that capture the exaggerated facial expressions and heavy makeup characteristic of the Kabuki stage. The use of colour is restrained, relying on a palette of muted tones to draw attention to the psychological tension between the characters. The inclusion of calligraphic text in the upper portion of the print provides context, identifying the actors and the specific production, which was a common practice in promotional prints of the era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTechnically, the print demonstrates the precision of the woodblock medium. The lines defining the facial features and the patterns on the costumes are executed with care, showing the skill of the carver and printer in translating the artist's design. The print offers a glimpse into the visual culture of early 19th-century Japan, where the theatre served as a primary source of entertainment and fashion. By focusing on the specific performances of these actors, Hokushū documented the ephemeral nature of the stage, preserving the likenesses and dramatic presence of the performers for a wider audience. This piece is a representative example of the Osaka print tradition, which prioritised the individual characterisation of actors over the more stylised portrayals found in other regions.\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\/shimosuwa-from-sixty-nine-stations-of-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;\"\u003eShimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/vehicles-on-the-streets-of-tokyo-utagawa-yoshitora\" 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;\"\u003eVehicles on the Streets of Tokyo - Utagawa Yoshitora — Utagawa Yoshitora\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Shunkōsai Hokushū","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58968895783247,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58969036292431,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58969036325199,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58969036357967,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58969036390735,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58969036423503,"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":58969036456271,"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":58969036489039,"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":58969036521807,"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":58969036554575,"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":58969036587343,"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":58969036620111,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Kabuki-Actors-Asao-Y-jir-and-Ichikawa-Ebij-r-I_Poster_CompositorV1_1790788048318.jpg?v=1790791033","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/kabuki-actors-asao-yujiro-and-ichikawa-ebijuro-i-shunkosai-hokushu","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}