{"product_id":"the-actor-sawamura-sojuro-iii-in-the-role-of-shimada-juzaburo-utagawa-toyokuni-i","title":"The Actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III in the Role of Shimada Jūzaburō - Utagawa Toyokuni I","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni I, capturing the kabuki actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III in a dramatic stage role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToyokuni 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.\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-actor-asao-gakujuro-i-as-mashiba-hisatsugu-shunkosai-hokushu\" 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 Asao Gakujūrō I as Mashiba Hisatsugu by Shunkōsai Hokushū\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ichikawa-monnosuke-ii-as-a-lord-katsukawa-shunko-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;\"\u003eIchikawa Monnosuke II as a Lord - Katsukawa Shunkō II by Katsukawa Shunsen\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/utagawa-toyokuni-i\" 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;\"\u003eUtagawa Toyokuni I prints →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Utagawa Toyokuni I","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59115531993423,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59115546870095,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59115546902863,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59115546935631,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59115546968399,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59115547001167,"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":59115547033935,"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":59115547066703,"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":59115547099471,"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":59115547132239,"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":59115547165007,"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":59115547197775,"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-Sawamura-S-j-r-III-in-the-Role-of-Shimada-J-zabur-_Poster_CompositorV1_1791934064992.jpg?v=1791944533","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/the-actor-sawamura-sojuro-iii-in-the-role-of-shimada-juzaburo-utagawa-toyokuni-i","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}