{"product_id":"actors-ichikawa-monnosuke-ii-iwai-hanshiro-iv-and-onoe-matsusuke-i-katsukawa-shunko","title":"Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Iwai Hanshirō IV, and Onoe Matsusuke I - Katsukawa Shunkō","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunkō, depicting three celebrated kabuki actors in a traditional theatrical scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunkō captures a moment from the kabuki theatre, a popular form of entertainment in Edo-period Japan. Shunkō was a member of the Katsukawa school, which became known for its realistic approach to actor portraiture, or yakusha-e. Unlike the stylised and idealised depictions common in earlier ukiyo-e, the Katsukawa artists focused on capturing the specific facial features and expressions of individual performers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition features three prominent kabuki actors: Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Iwai Hanshirō IV, and Onoe Matsusuke I. Each figure is rendered with attention to their costume, which reflects the status and character type of the roles they played. The use of line is precise, defining the folds of the kimono and the distinct silhouettes of the actors. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft earth tones and muted pinks, which is characteristic of the benizuri-e style of the period. This technique involved the use of two or three colour blocks, often including a pink pigment derived from safflower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this print, the actors are positioned in a way that suggests a scene from a play, with their poses conveying a sense of dramatic tension. The background is kept minimal, allowing the viewer to focus on the figures themselves. The print serves as a record of the theatrical culture of the time, documenting the appearance of performers who were celebrities in their own right. The Katsukawa school's influence on the development of actor prints was significant, as it shifted the focus towards a more grounded representation of the human form. This piece provides a glimpse into the aesthetic values of the late eighteenth century, where the intersection of art and popular performance created a unique visual language.\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":58417190666575,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58417194533199,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58417194565967,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58417194598735,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58417194631503,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58417194664271,"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":58417194697039,"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":58417194729807,"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":58417194762575,"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":58417194795343,"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":58417194828111,"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":58417194860879,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Actors-Ichikawa-Monnosuke-II-Iwai-Hanshir-IV-and-Onoe-Matsusuke-I_Poster_CompositorV1_1786156217757.jpg?v=1786156545","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/actors-ichikawa-monnosuke-ii-iwai-hanshiro-iv-and-onoe-matsusuke-i-katsukawa-shunko","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}