"Onayo, the Courtesan of Gionmachi, by Sanokawa Ichimatsu III"by Sharaku(1794-1795)

Date:　1968
Condition: Good impression, vibrant colors, faint soiling, age stains, 
Japanese Woodblock Print,
Size:　Print (31 x 21 cm), Backing sheet (41.5 x 30 cm)

All artworks are sold as seen on the picture.

This picture also depicts a character from the play "Hanashōbu Bunroku Soga," performed at the Miyakoza Theater in May of the sixth year of Kansei. It features Ichimatsu, portrayed alongside Ichikawa Tomiemon's Kanisaka Tōma, in a half-length portrayal.
This artwork may serve as a prime example for those who view Sharaku's art as caricature and find it unappealing. With a disproportionately large face resembling that of a demon, masculine features, and flamboyant attire combined with a Shimada-mage hairstyle, the portrayal might seem grotesque. However, it is essential to recognize the true essence of Sharaku's artistry here: Ichimatsu is a female character. Indeed, if this were a real woman, it might appear bizarre. Yet, the depiction of a male actor impersonating a woman with such authenticity is rare among actor portraits.
Preceding and succeeding Sharaku's portrayals of female characters in actor prints typically idealize the actresses' faces to appear conventionally feminine. However, the reality of a woman's appearance on stage may differ significantly. Anyone who has watched a stage performance televised in close-up can attest to this. Despite this, actresses on stage often exude even more femininity than real women, thanks to the power of their performance.
Considering this fact, the fox-like face and the extravagant attire that doesn't quite match the face become inconsequential. Instead, one is astonished by the lifelike portrayal of Ichimatsu's face. In essence, what is depicted here is the essence of portraying a female role by a male actor, a concept unparalleled in the world.
In fact, we may find that Sharaku has captured Ichimatsu's essence with such precision that it is impossible to depict the character more accurately. The flamboyant attire reflects her profession as a white courtesan, and one can imagine that Ichimatsu's performances on stage were enchanting thanks to her theatrical skills.
Ichimatsu became the third generation Ichimatsu in the fourth year of Tenmei, later transitioning to male roles and adopting the name Ichikawa Aragorō in the tenth year of Kansei. He passed away at the age of fifty-five in the eleventh month of the eleventh year of Bunsei. At the time, he held the rank of "Jōjō Shirayoshi" among female impersonators and was a popular actor in his prime.