{"product_id":"arashi-ryuzo-ii-as-the-monk-tojibo-utagawa-toyokuni-i","title":"Arashi Ryuzo II as the monk Tojibo - Utagawa Toyokuni I","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni I, capturing the kabuki actor Arashi Ryuzo II in a dramatic stage pose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni I depicts the kabuki actor Arashi Ryuzo II in the role of the monk Tojibo. The work originates from the series Portraits of Actors on Stage (Yakusha butai no sugata-e), a collection that documented the theatrical culture of Edo-period Japan. Toyokuni I was a central figure in the Utagawa school, known for his ability to capture the specific mannerisms and facial expressions of popular performers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition focuses on the actor's posture, which is slightly hunched, conveying the character's physical state or dramatic intent within the play Hatsu Akebono Kaomise Soga. The artist employs a minimalist approach to the background, leaving the paper largely unadorned to direct the viewer's attention to the figure. The lines are clean and precise, characteristic of the high-quality carving and printing techniques employed by the publishers of the time. The actor wears a red outer garment, which provides a contrast against the muted tones of the rest of the figure and the paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToyokuni I was instrumental in shifting the focus of actor prints toward more expressive, individualised portraits. This print demonstrates his skill in balancing the requirements of theatrical documentation with the aesthetic demands of the Ukiyo-e genre. The inclusion of the actor's name and the play title within the cartouche provides context for the performance, allowing contemporary audiences to identify the specific production. This print is a representative example of the yakusha-e style, which functioned as both a promotional tool for the theatre and a collectible item for fans of the kabuki stage.\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\/wild-words-a-play-utagawa-kunisada\" 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;\"\u003eWild Words - a Play - Utagawa Kunisada — Utagawa Kunisada\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/flying-white-fronted-goose-seen-from-underneath-in-front-of-the-moon-ohara-koson\" 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;\"\u003eFlying White-Fronted Goose Seen from Underneath in Front of the Moon - Ohara Koson — Ohara Koson\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Utagawa Toyokuni I","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58929481974095,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58929667866959,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58929667899727,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58929667932495,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58929667965263,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58929667998031,"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":58929668030799,"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":58929668063567,"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":58929668096335,"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":58929668129103,"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":58929668161871,"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":58929668194639,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Arashi-Ryuzo-II-as-the-monk-Tojibo_Poster_CompositorV1_1790701943684.jpg?v=1790703329","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/arashi-ryuzo-ii-as-the-monk-tojibo-utagawa-toyokuni-i","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}