{"product_id":"wrestling-umpire-kimura-shotaro-katsukawa-shunei","title":"Wrestling Umpire Kimura Shōtarō - Katsukawa Shun'ei","description":"\u003cp\u003eA traditional Japanese woodblock print by Katsukawa Shun'ei depicting the sumo wrestling umpire Kimura Shōtarō holding a ceremonial fan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Katsukawa Shun'ei depicts the sumo wrestling umpire, or gyōji, Kimura Shōtarō. Shun'ei, a student of Katsukawa Shunshō, became known for his portraits of sumo wrestlers and kabuki actors. His work often captures the physical presence of his subjects through clean lines and a focus on posture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe figure stands in a formal pose, dressed in the traditional attire of a gyōji. He holds a gunbai, the fan used by umpires to signal decisions during a match. The composition is stark, placing the subject against a neutral background to draw attention to the details of his costume, including the striped hakama trousers and the dark, structured kamishimo jacket. The artist uses a restrained colour palette, allowing the black of the jacket and the subtle tones of the fabric to define the form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShun'ei was active during the late eighteenth century, a period when the popularity of sumo wrestling in Edo led to a high demand for prints featuring its stars and officials. This print reflects the conventions of the Katsukawa school, which prioritised a realistic approach to facial features and body types compared to the more stylised portrayals found in other schools of the time. The print serves as a record of the visual culture surrounding the sport, documenting the specific dress and equipment of the era. The inclusion of the artist's signature and seal confirms its place within the broader body of work produced by the Katsukawa studio, which played a role in the development of the actor and athlete portrait genre in Japanese printmaking.\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\/a-party-of-merrymakers-in-a-house-in-the-yoshiwara-on-a-moonlight-night-kitagawa-utamaro\" 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;\"\u003eA Party of Merrymakers in a House in the Yoshiwara on a Moonlight Night - Kitagawa Utamaro — Kitagawa Utamaro\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-moon-viewing-promontory-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 Moon-Viewing Promontory - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Katsukawa Shun'ei","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58429053763919,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58429055959375,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58429055992143,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58429056024911,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58429056057679,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58429056090447,"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":58429056123215,"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":58429056155983,"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":58429056188751,"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":58429056221519,"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":58429056254287,"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":58429056287055,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Wrestling-Umpire-Kimura-Sh-tar-_Poster_CompositorV1_1786173999161.jpg?v=1786230597","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/wrestling-umpire-kimura-shotaro-katsukawa-shunei","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}