{"product_id":"ichikawa-monnosuke-ii-standing-beside-a-stone-box-katsukawa-shunjo","title":"Ichikawa Monnosuke II Standing Beside a Stone Box - Katsukawa Shunjō","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic yakusha-e woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunjō, capturing the actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II in a traditional kabuki pose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunjō depicts the kabuki actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II in a characteristic pose. Shunjō was a member of the Katsukawa school, a group known for their realistic approach to actor portraiture, or yakusha-e. Unlike the stylised, idealised figures common in earlier ukiyo-e, the Katsukawa artists focused on capturing the specific facial features and expressions of individual performers. This shift allowed audiences to recognise their favourite actors with greater ease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is typical of the hosoban format, a narrow vertical sheet often used for single-figure actor portraits. The actor stands in a dynamic posture, his body angled to suggest movement or a pause in a dramatic scene. His costume, featuring a patterned kimono, is rendered with clean lines and a restrained colour palette. The stone box beside him provides a sense of spatial context, grounding the figure within the theatrical environment. The artist uses a calligraphic line quality to define the folds of the fabric and the contours of the actor's form, demonstrating the technical precision required in the carving and printing process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKatsukawa Shunjō was a student of Katsukawa Shunshō, the founder of the school. His work maintains the school's focus on the actor as a recognisable individual rather than a generic archetype. The print reflects the culture of the Edo period, where kabuki theatre was a central form of popular entertainment. By documenting these performances, artists like Shunjō provided fans with souvenirs of their favourite plays and actors. The print is a clear example of the aesthetic values of the period, prioritising clarity of form and the expression of character through posture and gesture. The muted tones and balanced composition make this a representative piece of mid-eighteenth-century Japanese printmaking.\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\/evening-glow-at-ryogoku-bridge-keisai-eisen\" 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;\"\u003eEvening Glow at Ryogoku Bridge - Keisai Eisen — Keisai Eisen\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/nihonbashi-bridge-and-edobashi-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;\"\u003eNihonbashi Bridge and Edobashi Bridge - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Katsukawa Shunjō","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58970938900815,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58970942079311,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58970942112079,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58970942144847,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58970942177615,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58970942210383,"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":58970942243151,"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":58970942275919,"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":58970942308687,"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":58970942341455,"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":58970942374223,"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":58970942406991,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Ichikawa-Monnosuke-II-Standing-Beside-a-Stone-Box_Poster_CompositorV1_1790819610481.jpg?v=1790820951","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/ichikawa-monnosuke-ii-standing-beside-a-stone-box-katsukawa-shunjo","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}