{"product_id":"the-actor-sawamura-sojuro-iii-as-the-lay-priest-kiyomori-utagawa-kunimasa","title":"The actor Sawamura Sojuro III as the lay priest Kiyomori - Utagawa Kunimasa","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking 1796 woodblock print by Utagawa Kunimasa, capturing the kabuki actor Sawamura Sojuro III in a dramatic role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Utagawa Kunimasa depicts the kabuki actor Sawamura Sojuro III in the role of the lay priest Taira no Kiyomori. Produced in 1796, the work belongs to the yakusha-e genre, which focuses on portraits of actors in specific stage roles. Kunimasa was a pupil of the master Utagawa Toyokuni I and became known for his ability to capture the individual personality and physical presence of performers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition employs a close-up, bust-length format that draws attention to the actor's facial expression. The stark, dark background provides a contrast to the pale skin of the figure, whose head is shaved in the manner of a Buddhist priest. The lines defining the facial features, particularly the eyes and mouth, are precise and expressive, conveying the intensity of the character. The actor wears a patterned garment, rendered with subtle geometric lines that suggest the texture of the fabric without overwhelming the figure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKunimasa's approach to portraiture during this period moved away from the idealised depictions common in earlier ukiyo-e. Instead, he favoured a more direct observation of the subject. This print captures the dramatic tension inherent in kabuki theatre, where the actor's physical gestures and expressions are central to the storytelling. The use of colour is restrained, relying on a palette of white, black, and subtle ochre tones to maintain focus on the actor's performance. The signature of the artist and the publisher's seal are visible on the left side of the print, providing historical context for its production within the Edo period print market.\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":"Utagawa Kunisada II","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58975778799951,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58975813960015,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58975813992783,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58975814025551,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58975814058319,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58975814091087,"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":58975814123855,"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":58975814156623,"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":58975814189391,"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":58975814222159,"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":58975814254927,"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":58975814287695,"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-Sawamura-Sojuro-III-as-the-lay-priest-Kiyomori_Poster_CompositorV1_1790870274540.jpg?v=1790871047","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/the-actor-sawamura-sojuro-iii-as-the-lay-priest-kiyomori-utagawa-kunimasa","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}