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

Japanese Print

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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