Fine Art Poster
From $29
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
The Actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III in the Role of Shimada Jūzaburō - Utagawa Toyokuni I
Regular price
$29.00 USD
Sale price
$29.00 USD
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
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Made to order
Description
A classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni I, capturing the kabuki actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III in a dramatic stage role.
This woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni I depicts the kabuki actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III in the character of Shimada Jūzaburō. It originates from the series Yakusha butai no sugata-e, or Image of Actors on Stage, which documented the performers of the Edo period. Toyokuni I was a central figure in the Utagawa school, and his work in the late eighteenth century helped define the aesthetic of the actor print genre.
The composition focuses on the figure of the actor, who stands against a plain, unadorned background. This choice directs attention to the costume and the expressive posture of the performer. The actor wears a red outer garment over a black hakama, which is decorated with a repeating circular pattern. The lines are precise and controlled, characteristic of the woodblock medium, while the colour palette remains restrained to allow the form of the figure to dominate. The actor holds a sword, a common prop in kabuki theatre, which suggests the dramatic nature of the role.
Toyokuni I was known for his ability to capture the individual likeness of actors, moving away from the more generic facial features seen in earlier prints. This print demonstrates his approach to characterisation, where the actor's gaze and stance convey the intensity of the stage performance. The work provides a record of the theatrical culture of the time, documenting both the fashion of the period and the specific styles of performance associated with Sawamura Sōjūrō III. The print is a representative example of the technical skill involved in the production of ukiyo-e, from the initial drawing to the carving of the blocks and the final application of ink to paper.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Complete The Look
The Actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III in the Role of Shimada Jūzaburō - Utagawa Toyokuni I
Regular price
From $29.00 USD
Sale price
From $29.00 USD
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Utagawa Toyokuni I
"My pictures are merely something that I draw, and nothing more than that." Toyokuni's self-assessment was modest to the point of dishonesty. He transformed kabuki actor portraiture from stiff formal likenesses into dynamic images of performers in character on stage, and in doing so built the most commercially powerful woodblock print studio in Edo.
He was born in 1769, the son of a puppet maker. He studied under Utagawa Toyoharu, founder of the Utagawa school, and followed convention by taking one syllable of his master's name. His early work synthesised the styles of Utamaro, Eishi and Choki through close study and relentless practice. By the mid-1790s he had found his own voice. Yakusha Butai no Sugatae (Portraits of Actors in Their Various Roles), a series of large polychrome prints produced between 1794 and 1796, showed kabuki actors costumed and posed on stage rather than seated in formal dress. The series was a commercial triumph and set the standard for actor portraiture for the next generation.
He also excelled at bijin-ga, pictures of beautiful women, establishing compositions that ukiyo-e artists followed for decades. His innovations extended to format: he pioneered the use of diptych, triptych and polyptych arrangements that allowed more complex narrative compositions than the single sheet could hold.
As demand surged, Toyokuni's studio expanded until his personal involvement in each print became nominal. The quality of his later work declined, but the school he built survived him. His two most gifted pupils, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi, became major figures in their own right, and the Utagawa school dominated ukiyo-e production through the final decades of the Edo period. He died in 1825.
He was born in 1769, the son of a puppet maker. He studied under Utagawa Toyoharu, founder of the Utagawa school, and followed convention by taking one syllable of his master's name. His early work synthesised the styles of Utamaro, Eishi and Choki through close study and relentless practice. By the mid-1790s he had found his own voice. Yakusha Butai no Sugatae (Portraits of Actors in Their Various Roles), a series of large polychrome prints produced between 1794 and 1796, showed kabuki actors costumed and posed on stage rather than seated in formal dress. The series was a commercial triumph and set the standard for actor portraiture for the next generation.
He also excelled at bijin-ga, pictures of beautiful women, establishing compositions that ukiyo-e artists followed for decades. His innovations extended to format: he pioneered the use of diptych, triptych and polyptych arrangements that allowed more complex narrative compositions than the single sheet could hold.
As demand surged, Toyokuni's studio expanded until his personal involvement in each print became nominal. The quality of his later work declined, but the school he built survived him. His two most gifted pupils, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi, became major figures in their own right, and the Utagawa school dominated ukiyo-e production through the final decades of the Edo period. He died in 1825.
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Fine Art Framed
From $89
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
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