The Actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III in the Role of Shimada Jūzaburō, from the series "Image of Actors on Stage"
Utagawa Toyokuni I Japanese
Not on view
Toyokuni's series "Kabuki Actors on Stage" was published between 1794 and 1796. In contrast to his rival To-shu-sai Sharaku, who exaggerated actors' climactic poses (mie) in close-up images, Toyokuni portrayed actors standing in relaxed poses. From the
late eighteenth century on, Toyokuni and his numerous Utagawa-school disciples dominated the production of ukiyo-e prints of Kabuki stars.
Toyokuni here presents Sawamura Sōjūrō III (1753–1801) in the role of Shimada Jūzaburō in the play Faithful Courtesans in Yoshiwara. The actor's trousers are decorated with a simplified chrysanthemum design and a stylized pattern of water known as kanze mizu, which became closely associated with Sōjūrō III and influenced textile fashion more widely. A Noh robe decorated with the kanze mizu pattern is on view in this gallery. The simplified background and kimono patterns enhance the arrested image of the actor.
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