Two Japanese Woodblock Prints

This pair of Japanese woodblock prints represents two of the most important subjects in the Ukiyo-e tradition: bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) and yakusha-e (actor portraits). The first print, after Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), depicts a fashionable beauty from the celebrated series Thirty-Two Physiognomic Types in the Modern World, reflecting the elegance, refinement, and popular culture of late Edo-period Japan. The second print, after Toshusai Sharaku, portrays the famous kabuki actor Otani Tokuji III, one of the most iconic images in the history of Japanese printmaking.

Sharaku's portrait depicts Otani Tokuji III in the role of Yakko Edobei from the kabuki play Hanaayame Bunroku Soga, performed in 1794. The drama was based on the famous revenge tale Kameyama no Adauchi, in which two brothers finally avenge the murder of their father after twenty-eight years. The image is believed to illustrate a scene from the third act, where the character confronts his enemy in a moment of intense dramatic tension. Unlike many actor prints of the period, Sharaku emphasized psychological expression over idealized beauty. The actor's sharply angled features, piercing gaze, and exaggerated pose convey both the emotional intensity of kabuki theater and Sharaku's remarkable ability to capture individual personality. Active for less than a year, Sharaku nevertheless created some of the most innovative and influential actor portraits in Japanese art, and images of Otani Tokuji III remain among his most celebrated works.

Together, these prints showcase two contrasting yet complementary aspects of Edo-period urban culture: the world of fashionable beauties and the excitement of the kabuki stage.

a) After Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864), The Popular Type, from the series Thirty-Two Physiognomic Types in the Modern World. {Image size sight: 15 x 10 inches (38 x 25.5 cm)}. {Frame size: 22 5/8 x 16 5/8 inches (59 x 43 cm)}.

b) After Toshusai Sharaku (Japanese, active 1794–1795), Actor Otani Tokuji III, woodblock print. {Image size: 15 x 9 3/4 inches (38 x 25 cm)}. {Frame size: 22 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches (59 x 44 cm)}.

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