{"product_id":"the-actor-sakata-hangoro-iii-as-fujikawa-mizuemon-toshusai-sharaku","title":"The actor Sakata Hangoro III as Fujikawa Mizuemon - Tōshūsai Sharaku","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking 1794 woodblock portrait by Tōshūsai Sharaku, capturing the actor Sakata Hangoro III in a dramatic kabuki role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicts the kabuki actor Sakata Hangoro III in the role of the villain Fujikawa Mizuemon. Produced in 1794, the work belongs to a brief, ten-month period during which the artist was active. Sharaku is known for his departure from the idealised portraits common in the ukiyo-e genre of the time. Instead, he employed a style of caricature that exaggerated the physical features and expressions of his subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition focuses on the actor's head and shoulders against a dark, mica-dusted background. The artist uses bold, sweeping lines to define the actor's heavy jaw, arched eyebrows, and intense gaze. The figure wears a patterned kimono, rendered with subtle textures that contrast with the stark, pale skin of the face. The print captures a moment of dramatic tension, typical of the kabuki stage, where actors often held exaggerated poses to convey character traits or emotional states.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSharaku's approach to portraiture was unconventional. By focusing on the specific idiosyncrasies of the actor, he provided a psychological depth that was rare in contemporary prints. The use of a dark background serves to isolate the figure, forcing the viewer to confront the actor's expression directly. This print is a representative example of the okubi-e, or large-head portrait, a format that allowed for greater detail in facial expression. The work remains a primary example of the artist's ability to capture the essence of a performance through a minimalist yet highly expressive 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\/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\/fifty-three-stations-of-the-tokaido-inspired-by-famous-pictures-kanagawa-utagawa-kunisada\" 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;\"\u003eFifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō: Inspired by Famous Pictures (Kanagawa) - Utagawa Kunisada — Utagawa Kunisada\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Sharaku","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58979689038159,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58979703849295,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58979703882063,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58979703914831,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58979703947599,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58979703980367,"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":58979704013135,"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":58979704045903,"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":58979704078671,"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":58979704111439,"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":58979704144207,"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":58979704176975,"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-Sakata-Hangoro-III-as-Fujikawa-Mizuemon_Poster_CompositorV1_1790892106892.jpg?v=1790892953","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/the-actor-sakata-hangoro-iii-as-fujikawa-mizuemon-toshusai-sharaku","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}