Samurai Character Yakusha-e (役者絵) - Tōshūsai Sharaku (東洲齋寫樂) - Japan (No reserve price)

Work Title: Samurai Character Yakusha-e (役者絵)
Artist: Toshūsai Sharaku (東洲齋寫樂)
Technique: Woodblock Print
Artist's Signature on Print: Present
Paper Size: 34×23.8 cm (13.39×9.37 in)
Image Size: 31×21 cm (12.20×8.27 in)
Paper Material: Washi (和紙)
Carver: Matsuda Torazō (松田寅蔵)
Printer: Fujimori San (紙藤森三)
This highly artistically expressive ukiyo-e woodblock print is one of the representative works by Toshūsai Sharaku (東洲齋寫樂) — an iconic artist in the field of Japanese ukiyo-e "yakusha-e" (役者絵，kabuki actor portrait prints). The original work was created in the 6th year of the Kansei era in Japan (1794). As a towering figure in yakusha-e art, Sharaku was renowned for his highly dramatic and vivid depictions of kabuki actors. However, he vanished from the art scene after only 10 months of activity (1794–1795), and his true identity remains an unsolved mystery in the history of ukiyo-e. This woodblock print is a reprint released around the 1970s.

The print depicts characters from the kabuki play Nihonmatsu Kanō Shōchōki (二本松監興生長):The standing figure is Toda Hyōtarō, portrayed by kabuki actor Ichikawa Omezō (市川米蔵). He wears a red and black checkered outer robe, with a sword at his waist, standing upright and tall. His facial expression is cold and sharp, and the iconic exaggerated depiction of his eyebrows and eyes embodies the essence of Sharaku's artistic style.
The squatting figure is Ukiyo Hyōhei, portrayed by kabuki actor Ōtani Oniji III (大谷鬼次). He is draped in a green-patterned kimono, clutching the hilt of his sword tightly in a defensive posture. Though his body is huddled, his eyes remain alert and vigilant. The detailed designs on his kimono, such as the family crests on the cuffs, perfectly align with the character's identity.

Due to the passage of time, the washi paper shows signs of oxidation-induced yellowing, while the overall condition remains good.

- The picture is part of the description. The color of the item may be slightly different from the picture (due to camera and screen settings).
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