{"product_id":"the-actor-ichikawa-danjuro-vi-as-sukeroku-utagawa-toyokuni-i","title":"The actor Ichikawa Danjuro VI as Sukeroku - Utagawa Toyokuni I","description":"\u003cp\u003eA 1799 woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni I depicting the kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro VI in the role of Sukeroku.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni I depicts the celebrated kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro VI in the role of Sukeroku. Produced in 1799, the work captures a specific performance at the Nakamura Theater in Edo. Toyokuni I was a master of yakusha-e, or actor prints, and this piece demonstrates his ability to convey the individual features and dramatic presence of performers during the late eighteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition focuses on the actor in a standing pose, holding a long staff. His costume features a blue outer garment adorned with bird motifs, layered over a deep red robe. The print includes calligraphic inscriptions, which provide context regarding the play and the specific production. The muted, earthy background serves to draw attention to the figure, while the balanced use of colour reflects the aesthetic conventions of the period. The lines are precise, defining the facial features and the folds of the fabric with clarity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToyokuni I was instrumental in the development of the Utagawa school, which became the dominant force in ukiyo-e during the nineteenth century. His approach to portraiture moved away from the stylised, uniform faces of earlier artists, opting instead for a more recognisable likeness of the actors. This print is an example of the commercial and artistic synergy between the kabuki theatre and the print publishers of Edo. It offers a glimpse into the theatrical culture of the time, where actors were treated as celebrities and their performances were documented through these widely circulated images. The print remains a record of both the artistic skill of Toyokuni I and the history of kabuki performance.\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\/flowers-of-a-hundred-worlds-momoyogusa-nakaguni-kamisaka-sekka\" 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;\"\u003eFlowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Nakaguni - Kamisaka Sekka — Kamisaka Sekka\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/one-hundred-poems-by-one-hundred-poets-in-eastern-brocade-katsukawa-shunsho\" 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;\"\u003eOne Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets in Eastern Brocade - Katsukawa Shunshō — Katsukawa Shunshō\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":58983239450959,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58983383597391,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58983383630159,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58983383662927,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58983383695695,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58983383728463,"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":58983383761231,"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":58983383793999,"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":58983383826767,"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":58983383859535,"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":58983383892303,"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":58983383925071,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-actor-Ichikawa-Danjuro-VI-as-Sukeroku_Poster_CompositorV1_1790924993681.jpg?v=1790925300","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/the-actor-ichikawa-danjuro-vi-as-sukeroku-utagawa-toyokuni-i","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}