{"product_id":"actor-ichikawa-danjuro-viii-as-narihira-at-yatsuhashi-utagawa-kuniyoshi","title":"Actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as Narihira at Yatsuhashi - Utagawa Kuniyoshi","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi featuring the Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in a dramatic, circular composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicts the celebrated Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in the role of the poet Ariwara no Narihira. The scene references the famous Yatsuhashi, or 'eight-bridge', location associated with the Tales of Ise. Kuniyoshi, a master of the Utagawa school, employs a circular framing device that draws the viewer directly into the intense, stylised expression of the actor. The composition is defined by a bold interplay of geometric patterns and flat colour fields, typical of the mid-nineteenth-century Edo period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe actor is shown in a close-up, or okubi-e, format. His costume features a complex interlocking fret pattern, contrasted against the sweeping, curved lines of the background elements. The use of a limited, high-contrast palette—dominated by deep blacks, iron reds, and touches of blue—creates a sense of graphic immediacy. The inclusion of small, stylised birds within the textile pattern adds a layer of symbolic detail, referencing the poetic associations of the Yatsuhashi setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKuniyoshi was known for his imaginative approach to the theatrical print, often pushing the boundaries of traditional composition. In this work, the actor's gaze is directed away from the centre, suggesting a moment of dramatic tension or internal reflection. The print is part of the series 'A Six-fold Screen of Famous Pictures', which allowed the artist to experiment with the juxtaposition of historical literary figures and contemporary stage performers. The technical execution demonstrates the precision of the woodblock carving process, with clean lines and deliberate colour registration. This piece offers a clear view into the aesthetic priorities of the Kabuki theatre culture, where the persona of the actor and the historical narrative of the character were inextricably linked for the audience of the time.\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=\"\/sv\/products\/ryogoku-bridge-and-the-great-riverbank-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;\"\u003eRyōgoku Bridge and the Great Riverbank - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/products\/lantern-float-kitagawa-utamaro\" 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;\"\u003eLantern Float - Kitagawa Utamaro — Kitagawa Utamaro\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Utagawa Kuniyoshi","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58983587348815,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58983630831951,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58983630864719,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58983630897487,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58983630930255,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58983630963023,"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":58983630995791,"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":58983631028559,"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":58983631061327,"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":58983631094095,"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":58983631126863,"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":58983631159631,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Actor-Ichikawa-Danjuro-VIII-as-Narihira-at-Yatsuhashi_Poster_CompositorV1_1790925581641.jpg?v=1790926045","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/sv\/products\/actor-ichikawa-danjuro-viii-as-narihira-at-yatsuhashi-utagawa-kuniyoshi","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}