{"product_id":"actor-morita-kanya-4th-katsukawa-shunei","title":"Actor Morita Kanya 4th - Katsukawa Shun'ei","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Katsukawa Shun'ei, capturing the intense expression of the kabuki actor Morita Kanya 4th.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Katsukawa Shun'ei depicts the kabuki actor Morita Kanya 4th. Shun'ei, a student of Katsukawa Shunsho, became known for his yakusha-e, or actor prints, which moved away from the idealised figures of earlier periods. Instead, he focused on the specific facial features and intense expressions of performers on the Edo stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is a close-up portrait, or okubi-e, which allows the viewer to observe the actor's dramatic makeup and posture. The figure is shown in a moment of tension, with eyes widened and mouth set in a firm line. The actor wears a patterned kimono with a green and white check design, rendered with clean lines and a limited colour palette typical of the period. The background remains plain, ensuring the focus stays entirely on the actor's presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShun'ei's work reflects the culture of the Edo period, where kabuki actors were celebrities. These prints functioned as promotional material for theatre-goers and collectors. The artist's ability to capture the individual character of the actor, rather than a generic mask, distinguishes his contribution to the Katsukawa school. The print demonstrates the technical precision of the woodblock medium, with clear outlines and balanced colour application. The use of a cartouche at the top provides identification, a common feature in Japanese prints of this era. This piece offers a direct look at the aesthetic priorities of late 18th-century Japanese printmaking, where the energy of the theatre was translated into a static, graphic form.\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 Shun'ei","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58428917907791,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58428932686159,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58428932718927,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58428932751695,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58428932784463,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58428932817231,"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":58428932849999,"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":58428932882767,"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":58428932915535,"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":58428932948303,"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":58428932981071,"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":58428933013839,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Actor-Morita-Kanya-4th_Poster_CompositorV1_1786172841399.jpg?v=1786229404","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/actor-morita-kanya-4th-katsukawa-shunei","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}