The Actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III as Yuranosuke in Act 7 of Kanadehon Chūshingura
Artist
Utagawa Toyokuni I 歌川 豊国
(Japanese, 1769–1825)
Datec. 1802
Mediumwoodblock print; ink and color on paper; graduated colors (bokashi) and blind printing (karazuri)
DimensionsHorizontal ōban: 38.7 x 25.9 cm (15 ¼ x 10 3/16 in.)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineJohn Chandler Bancroft Collection
Terms
Object number1901.285
Label TextThis arresting close-up portrait (ōkubi-e) portrays the celebrated kabuki actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III (1753–1801) in the role of Ōboshi Yuranosuke, the protagonist and chief samurai to his lord, Asano Naganori, in the hit Chūshingura (The Syllabary Copybook Treasury of Loyal Retainers). Sōjūrō III dons a chic kimono sporting a chrysanthemum motif. The stylized water pattern decorating his fan, known as Kanze mizu (literally “Kanze water”), became a popular textile pattern closely associated with the actor and is indicative of his great influence on fashion.
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