{"product_id":"ap_25047","title":"Le célèbre acteur Ichikawa Danjuro Circa 1790","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"279\" data-end=\"487\"\u003eThis elegant circa 1790 original Japanese woodblock print by Katsukawa Shun’ei depicts the celebrated Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjūrō, one of the most legendary names in the history of Japanese theater.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"489\" data-end=\"827\"\u003eExecuted in the refined hosoban vertical format, the print exemplifies the expressive actor portrait tradition of the late Edo period. The elongated composition emphasizes the theatrical pose and commanding stage presence of the actor, capturing both movement and psychological intensity through subtle line work and restrained color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"829\" data-end=\"1182\"\u003eIchikawa Danjūrō, born in 1762 and deceased in 1819, belonged to the illustrious Danjūrō acting lineage, one of the most important dynasties in Kabuki theater. The Danjūrō name became synonymous with heroic and dramatic performances, particularly in the powerful \u003cem data-start=\"1092\" data-end=\"1101\"\u003earagoto\u003c\/em\u003e style characterized by exaggerated gestures, dynamic poses, and emotional force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1547\"\u003eIn this composition, the actor is represented in a stylized theatrical stance, his body turned dramatically while his costume flows in angular rhythmic folds. The striped garments and carefully drawn facial expression reflect the visual language of Kabuki performance, where posture, costume, and gesture conveyed character and emotion as much as spoken dialogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1549\" data-end=\"1969\"\u003eKatsukawa Shun’ei (1762–1819) was one of the leading masters of the Katsukawa school, the dominant school of actor portraiture at the end of the eighteenth century. A pupil of the renowned artist Katsukawa Shunshō, he later became the principal figure of the school at the turn of the nineteenth century, following the traditional practice of adopting one syllable of his master’s name in his artistic signature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1971\" data-end=\"2391\"\u003eShun’ei is particularly celebrated for his depictions of Kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers. His theatrical portraits are often considered a precursor to the psychologically charged actor portraits of Sharaku. Beyond printmaking, he also illustrated the famous Shibai kinmō zui (“Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Theater”), published in 1803, an important and highly successful reference work devoted to Kabuki culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2393\" data-end=\"2720\"\u003eUnlike earlier idealized actor imagery, Katsukawa school artists often sought greater realism and recognizability in their portraits, making these works especially prized by theater enthusiasts of the Edo period. Such prints functioned both as artistic creations and as popular cultural souvenirs for admirers of Kabuki actors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2722\" data-end=\"2971\"\u003eThe hosoban format itself was especially associated with actor prints during the eighteenth century. Its narrow vertical proportions encouraged dramatic compositions and elegant silhouettes, perfectly suited to theatrical subjects and dynamic poses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2973\" data-end=\"3294\"\u003ePrinted using traditional Japanese woodblock techniques, the work demonstrates the delicate balance of line, flat color, and negative space characteristic of classical ukiyo-e aesthetics. The restrained palette and refined contour drawing create a composition of remarkable sophistication despite its apparent simplicity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3296\" data-end=\"3604\"\u003eToday, original Edo-period actor prints by masters of the Katsukawa school are highly sought after by collectors of Japanese art, ukiyo-e, and theater history. Works depicting members of the Ichikawa Danjūrō lineage hold particular importance due to the actor family’s legendary status within Kabuki culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3606\" data-end=\"3854\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThis rare hosoban print stands as both a remarkable example of eighteenth-century Japanese woodblock artistry and an important document of Edo theatrical culture, capturing the elegance, energy, and expressive power of classical Kabuki performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWoodcut\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheater - Japan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe artist was born in 1762 and died in 1819 - Hosoban Vertical\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood condition\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Katsukawa Shunei","offers":[{"title":"30 x 14 \/ A","offer_id":53937951015239,"sku":null,"price":750.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0564\/9275\/3081\/files\/AP_25047Insta2.jpg?v=1779805633","url":"https:\/\/galerie1881.com\/en\/products\/ap_25047","provider":"Galerie 1881","version":"1.0","type":"link"}