{"product_id":"morita-kanya-xiii-as-jean-valjean-yamamura-toyonari","title":"Morita Kan'ya XIII as Jean Valjean - Yamamura Toyonari","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking 1920 Shin-hanga woodblock print by Yamamura Toyonari, capturing the actor Morita Kan'ya XIII in the role of Jean Valjean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Yamamura Toyonari depicts the kabuki actor Morita Kan'ya XIII in the role of Jean Valjean from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Produced in 1920, the work belongs to the Shin-hanga movement, which sought to revitalise traditional Japanese printmaking by incorporating Western artistic techniques, such as realistic shading and psychological depth, while maintaining the technical precision of the ukiyo-e tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition focuses on the actor's face and upper torso, capturing a moment of intense emotional distress. Toyonari uses a muted colour palette, dominated by cool greys and the stark, reddish-brown tone of the actor's hair. The skin is rendered with a pale, almost ghostly pallor, which contrasts with the dark, textured background. The actor's expression is one of agitation, with wide, staring eyes and a slightly open mouth, conveying the desperation of the character. The hand, positioned in the lower left, is drawn with delicate lines, adding to the sense of nervous energy in the figure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToyonari was known for his ability to capture the specific personality and stage presence of kabuki actors. Unlike the stylised, mask-like faces often found in earlier ukiyo-e, this portrait prioritises individual characterisation. The print demonstrates the artist's skill in woodblock carving and printing, particularly in the subtle gradients of the background and the fine detail of the facial features. This piece offers a unique intersection of French literature and Japanese theatrical performance, filtered through the lens of early twentieth-century printmaking. It remains a notable example of how Japanese artists engaged with Western narratives during the Taisho period, adapting foreign themes to suit the aesthetic sensibilities of the time.\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\/matsumoto-koshiro-vii-as-sukeroku-yamamura-toyonari\" 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;\"\u003eMatsumoto Koshiro VII as Sukeroku - Yamamura Toyonari by Yamamura Kōka\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-actor-arashi-wakano-as-a-wakashu-youth-in-a-kappa-raincoat-nishikawa-yoshinobu\" 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 Actor Arashi Wakano as a wakashu (youth) in a kappa (raincoat) by Nishikawa Yoshinobu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/yamamura-toyonari\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eYamamura Toyonari artwork →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Yamamura Toyonari","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59463416447311,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59463418642767,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59463418675535,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Morita-Kan-ya-XIII-as-Jean-Valjean_Poster_CompositorV1_1792129415176.jpg?v=1794367923","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/morita-kanya-xiii-as-jean-valjean-yamamura-toyonari","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}