{"product_id":"the-actor-nakamura-utaemon-iv-as-the-wrestler-iwakawa-jirokichi-shunbaisai-hokuei","title":"The Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as the Wrestler Iwakawa Jirokichi - Shunbaisai Hokuei","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic Japanese woodblock print by Shunbaisai Hokuei, capturing the dramatic intensity of kabuki actor Nakamura Utaemon IV in a theatrical role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Shunbaisai Hokuei depicts the kabuki actor Nakamura Utaemon IV in the role of the wrestler Iwakawa Jirokichi. Hokuei was a prominent artist of the Kamigata school, which operated in the Osaka and Kyoto regions. Unlike the Edo-based artists who often focused on idealised beauty, Kamigata printmakers frequently emphasised the individual features and dramatic intensity of specific actors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition captures the subject in a dynamic, crouched posture, suggesting a moment of high tension within the theatrical narrative. The actor holds a sword, his expression set in a fierce grimace, which is characteristic of the aragoto style of acting. His costume is rendered with detailed patterns, contrasting with the stark, simplified forms of the rocky terrain and the waterfall in the background. The use of colour is restrained, relying on a palette of blues, reds, and earthy tones to define the figure against the neutral paper ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrints of this nature, known as yakusha-e, functioned as promotional material for theatre-goers. They served to document specific performances and celebrate the popularity of individual actors. Hokuei’s work demonstrates the technical precision of the Osaka print tradition, particularly in the handling of the actor's facial features and the decorative elements of the kimono. The print provides a glimpse into the visual culture of the nineteenth-century Japanese theatre, where the boundary between the performer and the character was frequently blurred through elaborate costume and stylised movement. The inclusion of calligraphic text adds a layer of narrative context, identifying the performer and the specific role being portrayed.\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\/fukuroi-kites-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;\"\u003eFukuroi: Kites - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/thirty-six-views-of-yedo-asakusa-kinriusan-utagawa-hiroshige-ii\" 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;\"\u003eThirty-six Views of Yedo: Asakusa Kinriusan - Utagawa Hiroshige II — Utagawa Hiroshige II\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Shunbaisai Hokuei","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59072754778447,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59072755892559,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59072755925327,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59072755958095,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59072755990863,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59072756023631,"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":59072756056399,"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":59072756089167,"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":59072756121935,"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":59072756154703,"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":59072756187471,"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":59072756220239,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Actor-Nakamura-Utaemon-IV-as-the-Wrestler-Iwakawa-Jirokichi_Poster_CompositorV1_1791524388408.jpg?v=1791525552","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/the-actor-nakamura-utaemon-iv-as-the-wrestler-iwakawa-jirokichi-shunbaisai-hokuei","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}