{"product_id":"matsumoto-koshiro-iv-and-nakayama-tomisaburo-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Matsumoto Koshiro IV and Nakayama Tomisaburo - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting kabuki actors Matsumoto Koshiro IV and Nakayama Tomisaburo from the series Six Actors Likened to the Immortal Poets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print is the left sheet of a triptych titled Yakusha Rokkasen, or Six Actors Likened to the Immortal Poets. Kitagawa Utamaro, a master of the ukiyo-e genre, depicts two prominent kabuki actors of the Edo period: Matsumoto Koshiro IV and Nakayama Tomisaburo. The composition reflects the cultural fascination with the theatre, where actors were treated as celebrities and their likenesses were widely circulated through printed media.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro employs his characteristic style, focusing on the expressive qualities of the figures. The actors are positioned before a large, vertical cartouche containing the series title in bold calligraphy. The architectural elements in the background, including the lattice screens and tiled roof sections, provide a sense of place while maintaining the flat, graphic quality typical of the period. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft pinks, warm ochres, and black ink to define the forms and patterns of the kimono.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this work, the artist balances the individual characterisation of the actors with the decorative requirements of the print. The figures are rendered with clean, precise lines that delineate the folds of their garments and their facial features. This print serves as a record of the kabuki performance culture in late 18th-century Japan. It demonstrates the technical skill of the carvers and printers who collaborated with Utamaro to produce these multi-sheet works. The print captures a specific moment of theatrical artifice, translating the ephemeral nature of the stage into a permanent visual object. Collectors of Japanese prints value these works for their historical connection to the kabuki tradition and the aesthetic refinement of the ukiyo-e school.\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\/the-famous-practical-jokers-yajirobei-at-a-wayside-restaurant-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 Famous Practical Jokers: Yajirobei at a Wayside Restaurant - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/view-of-benten-shrine-on-nakanoshima-island-in-shinobazu-pond-ueno-park-utagawa-hiroshige-iii\" 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;\"\u003eView of Benten Shrine on Nakanoshima Island in Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Park - Utagawa Hiroshige III — Utagawa Hiroshige III\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Kitagawa Utamaro","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933184364879,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933547893071,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933547925839,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58933547958607,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58933547991375,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58933548024143,"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":58933548056911,"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":58933548089679,"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":58933548122447,"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":58933548155215,"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":58933548187983,"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":58933548220751,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Matsumoto-Koshiro-IV-and-Nakayama-Tomisaburo_Poster_CompositorV1_1790707459073.jpg?v=1790708285","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/matsumoto-koshiro-iv-and-nakayama-tomisaburo-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}