Arashi Ryūzō
as Moneylender Ishibe Kinkichi
Scholarly Notes on This Ukiyo-e Print
This description is based on the original scholarly notes supervised by Yoshida Eiji, a leading authority on ukiyo e research and Sharaku studies, included with this print.
Each artwork is accompanied by a thin sheet of Japanese washi paper containing academic commentary in Japanese. For international collectors, we provide here a faithful English translation as part of the artwork’s documentation.
Artwork Description
This print depicts Arashi Ryūzō as the moneylender Ishibe Kinkichi in the play Hanaayame Bunroku Soga, performed at the Miyakoza Theater in May 1794.
Kinkichi appears as a greedy creditor who comes to collect debts from the impoverished Tanabe Bunzō. Sharaku renders avarice with direct intensity. The tightly drawn lips, firm jawline, sharp gaze, and raised left hand convey insistence and pressure. There is no theatrical exaggeration beyond what is necessary. The character’s greed is psychologically immediate.
The composition is built around a broad field of yellow silk fabric that dominates the surface. Against this apparent monotony, the black collar cuts sharply across the image, framing the face with dramatic force. Sharaku transforms a simple color scheme into a structural device that heightens the character’s presence.
This is a straightforward yet powerful demonstration of Sharaku’s ability to distill personality into form.
Edition
1968 woodblock reprint
Hand printed using traditional techniques
This is a mid 20th century reprint after Sharaku’s original 1794 design.
Condition
Good impression with vibrant colors.
Faint soiling.
Details
Signature: Tōshūsai Sharaku
Date: 1968
Japanese Woodblock Print
Print size: 31 x 21 cm
Backing sheet: 41.5 x 30 cm
All artworks are sold as shown in the photographs.
About the Sharaku Series
Tōshūsai Sharaku was active for only ten months between 1794 and 1795. During this brief period, he created actor portraits that broke dramatically from convention.
Rather than idealizing his subjects, Sharaku revealed the psychological intensity of kabuki performance through bold composition and uncompromising vision.
This series presents carefully selected mid 20th century woodblock reprints, printed by hand using traditional methods, offering a renewed encounter with Sharaku’s revolutionary work.
