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 work depicts Ryūzō Arashi as Yakko Ukiyo Matabei and Ōtani Hiroji III as Yakko Tosa no Matabei from Keisei Sanbon Gasa, performed at the Miyakoza Theater in July 1794. The two characters serve opposing masters, one aligned with virtue and the other with villainy, establishing a dramatic contrast central to the composition.
Sharaku emphasizes this opposition through differences in facial expression, posture, proportion, and costume. The figures are arranged in a full length format viewed slightly from below, enhancing their theatrical presence. Interlocking triangular forms structure the composition, creating both dynamic tension and visual stability.
The luminous white mica background, characteristic of Sharaku’s second period, intensifies the vivid coloration of the costumes. Through bold geometry and controlled exaggeration, the print transforms stage confrontation into a carefully constructed visual architecture.
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 and small thinned area.
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.
