{"product_id":"the-actor-segawa-kikunojo-ii-as-the-courtesan-umegae-suzuki-harunobu","title":"The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the Courtesan Umegae - Suzuki Harunobu","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu, capturing the kabuki actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the courtesan Umegae in a 1764 theatrical performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicts the kabuki actor Segawa Kikunojo II in the role of the courtesan Umegae. The scene is drawn from the play Hiragana Seisuiki, which was performed at the Ichimura Theater in Edo during the first month of 1764. Harunobu is credited with the development of nishiki-e, or brocade prints, which allowed for the use of multiple colours in a single composition. This work demonstrates the technical precision and aesthetic refinement characteristic of his output during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition features the actor in a graceful, slightly melancholic pose, holding a small tray. The figure is positioned within an architectural setting, framed by a sliding screen and a blossoming plum tree, which provides a seasonal marker. The artist employs a delicate line quality to define the folds of the kimono and the facial features of the actor, who is portrayed with the slender, ethereal proportions typical of Harunobu's subjects. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft tones of pink, muted green, and charcoal to create a sense of harmony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarunobu's work often focused on the lives of women and actors within the pleasure districts of Edo. By capturing the performative nature of the kabuki stage, this print offers a glimpse into the cultural life of eighteenth-century Japan. The inclusion of calligraphy and the artist's signature further integrates the text and image, a common practice in ukiyo-e production. The print reflects the transition toward more complex printing techniques that defined the mid-Edo period, moving away from the simpler two-colour prints that preceded the nishiki-e innovation. This piece remains a clear example of the artist's ability to balance narrative detail with a highly stylised 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\/jo-and-uba-of-takasago-looking-at-the-rising-sun-totoya-hokkei\" 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;\"\u003eJo and Uba of Takasago Looking at the Rising Sun - Totoya Hokkei — Totoya Hokkei\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/frolicking-figures-and-animals-kawanabe-kyosai\" 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;\"\u003eFrolicking Figures and Animals - Kawanabe Kyōsai — Kawanabe Kyōsai\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Suzuki Harunobu","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58925967245647,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58926371537231,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58926371569999,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58926371602767,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58926371635535,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58926371668303,"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":58926371701071,"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":58926371733839,"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":58926371766607,"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":58926371799375,"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":58926371832143,"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":58926371864911,"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-Segawa-Kikunojo-II-as-the-Courtesan-Umegae_Poster_CompositorV1_1790698922231.jpg?v=1790699541","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/the-actor-segawa-kikunojo-ii-as-the-courtesan-umegae-suzuki-harunobu","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}