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 Sanokawa Ichimatsu III as Hakujin, known as “Onayo from Gion-machi,” and Ichikawa Tomiemon as Kanisaka Tōma in a scene from Hanaayame Bunroku Soga. It is one of five half-length dual portraits created during Sharaku’s first period, exploring the dramatic contrast between paired figures.
Sharaku constructs a striking series of visual oppositions. Ichimatsu’s slender facial structure contrasts with Tomiemon’s fuller features. Upward-sloping eyebrows are set against downward ones, narrow eyes against round. These deliberate contrasts create tension and rhythm, transforming a simple pairing into a dynamic psychological exchange.
Particular emphasis is placed on Tomiemon’s portrayal of the fallen rōnin Kanisaka Tōma. His firm right hand and restrained left hand tucked into the sleeve suggest both resolve and hardship. Set against the flamboyant presence of Hakujin, the composition reveals Sharaku’s strong subjective perspective. He does not merely depict status, but character, focusing on the inner condition of his subjects rather than their prominence on stage.
Sanokawa Ichimatsu III was regarded as a leading performer of young female roles. The distinctive cobblestone patterned costume popularized by the first generation later became known as the Ichimatsu pattern, closely associated with such roles.
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, small thinned area, and age-related stains visible, consistent with its age.
Details
Signature: Toshusai 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.
