{"product_id":"actor-iwai-hanshiro-iv-as-otani-katsukawa-shunko","title":"Actor Iwai Hanshirō IV as Otani - Katsukawa Shunkō","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunkō, depicting the kabuki actor Iwai Hanshirō IV in a refined, minimalist composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunkō captures the actor Iwai Hanshirō IV in the role of Otani. Shunkō was a member of the Katsukawa school, which gained recognition for its realistic depictions of kabuki actors. Unlike the stylised, idealised portraits common in earlier periods, the Katsukawa artists focused on the specific facial features and expressions of the performers. This approach allowed audiences to recognise their favourite actors on stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is vertical, typical of the hosoban format used for actor prints. The figure stands against a neutral background, which draws attention to the elaborate kimono patterns and the actor's posture. The artist employs a controlled line quality to define the folds of the fabric and the delicate features of the face. The colour palette is restrained, relying on muted earth tones, soft pinks, and subtle greys to create a balanced visual effect. The upper portion of the print features a architectural element, providing a sense of space without cluttering the scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKatsukawa Shunkō was a student of Katsukawa Shunshō, the founder of the school. His work reflects the technical precision of the period, particularly in the carving and printing processes required to produce such clean lines and flat areas of colour. This print serves as a record of the kabuki theatre culture in Edo-period Japan, documenting both the fashion of the time and the performative styles of the era. The print is a fine example of the yakusha-e genre, which was dedicated to the depiction of actors. It remains a clear representation of the aesthetic values held by the Katsukawa school during the late eighteenth century.\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=\"\/products\/a-party-of-merrymakers-in-a-house-in-the-yoshiwara-on-a-moonlight-night-kitagawa-utamaro\" 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;\"\u003eA Party of Merrymakers in a House in the Yoshiwara on a Moonlight Night - Kitagawa Utamaro — Kitagawa Utamaro\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-moon-viewing-promontory-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;\"\u003eThe Moon-Viewing Promontory - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Katsukawa Shunkō","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58427091878223,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58427191165263,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58427191198031,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58427191230799,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58427191263567,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58427191296335,"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":58427191329103,"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":58427191361871,"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":58427191394639,"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":58427191427407,"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":58427191460175,"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":58427191492943,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Actor-Iwai-Hanshir-IV-as-Otani_Poster_CompositorV1_1786165448184.jpg?v=1786221897","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/actor-iwai-hanshiro-iv-as-otani-katsukawa-shunko","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}