{"product_id":"act-vi-actors-bando-hikosaburo-and-sawamura-tanosuke-utagawa-kuniaki-ii","title":"Act VI: Actors Bandō Hikosaburō and Sawamura Tanosuke - Utagawa Kuniaki II","description":"\u003cp\u003eA woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniaki II depicting actors Bandō Hikosaburō and Sawamura Tanosuke in a scene from the classic kabuki play Kanadehon chūshingura.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniaki II depicts a scene from the sixth act of the Kanadehon chūshingura, a classic kabuki drama based on the historical vendetta of the forty-seven rōnin. The composition features the actor Bandō Hikosaburō in the role of Hayano Kanpei, standing beside Sawamura Tanosuke, who portrays his wife, Okaru. The scene captures a moment of domestic tension, with Okaru holding a hand mirror while Kanpei stands in a posture of distress or contemplation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKuniaki II, a student of the Utagawa school, employs the characteristic visual language of the late Edo period. The figures are rendered with bold outlines and expressive facial features, typical of yakusha-e, or actor prints. The colour palette relies on muted tones, including deep blues, earthy purples, and soft greens, which provide a sense of period authenticity. The print is framed by a distinctive triangular border pattern, a common decorative element in Japanese prints of this era to delineate the scene from the surrounding space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKanadehon chūshingura remains one of the most frequently adapted stories in Japanese theatre. By focusing on this specific interaction, the artist provides a glimpse into the emotional weight of the narrative, where personal loyalty and duty collide. The inclusion of cartouches containing the actors' names and the play's title serves as a record of the specific performance, allowing viewers to identify the characters and the theatrical context. This print functions as both a souvenir for theatre-goers and a piece of graphic design, reflecting the intersection of popular culture and traditional arts in nineteenth-century Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/the-actor-yamanaka-heikuro-i-torii-kiyonobu-i\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Actor Yamanaka Heikuro I - Torii Kiyonobu I — Torii Kiyonobu I\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/bamboo-quay-by-kyobashi-bridge-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eBamboo Quay by Kyōbashi Bridge - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Utagawa Kuniaki II","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59007312462159,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59007432720719,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59007432753487,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59007432786255,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59007432819023,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59007432851791,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59007432884559,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59007432917327,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59007432950095,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59007432982863,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59007433015631,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59007433048399,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Act-VI_-Actors-Band-Hikosabur-and-Sawamura-Tanosuke_Poster_CompositorV1_1791169526833.jpg?v=1791169889","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/act-vi-actors-bando-hikosaburo-and-sawamura-tanosuke-utagawa-kuniaki-ii","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}