Tōshūsai Sharaku

114 works

For just ten months, Sharaku designed woodblock prints of kabuki actors, and he made 144 known portraits in that time. Read more

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Woodblock print of a kabuki actor in red kimono with topknot, grimacing expression, against a grey background.

Ichikawa Ebizō IV (Danjurō) as Takemura Sadanoshin in The Loving Wife's Parti-Colored Reins

1794

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor in a dark kimono with a crest, holding an ornate sword hilt against a grey background.

Otani Tokuji I as the Retainer Sodesuke in "Flowering Irises: A Soga Vendetta of the Bunroku Era"

1794

Matsumoto Koshiro IV as Gorobei, the Fish Seller from Sanya

1794

Japanese woodblock print of a kabuki actor in a green kimono and striped robe holding a fan beside a bamboo fence.

The actor Bando Mitsugoro II as Katsura Kokingo Haruhisa

1794

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor in a black hairstyle, pink ribbon and patterned cream kimono against gray.

The actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Oshizu, wife of Tanabe Bunzo

1794

Woodblock portrait of a kabuki actor in pink kimono and black collar, gripping a sword, with a grey background.

Ichikawa Omezō I in the Role of Yakko Ippei from the Play "Koinyōbō somewake tazuna"

1794

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor in an elaborate hairstyle with ornamental pins, wearing a patterned kimono and holding a fa

Matsumoto Yonesaburo as Kewaizaka no Shosho in the Play "Katakiuchi Noriyaibanashi"

ca. 1794

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor with topknot, red kimono and blue sleeve, dramatic wide-eyed expression, grey background.

Ichikawa Ebizo IV in the role of Takemura Sadanoshin

Probably late 1880s or early 1890s

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor in a pink crested kimono beneath a flowering plum branch.

Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Sadato's Wife Iwate

1794-95

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor in green haori and patterned kimono holding a fan, with a sword at his waist, on yellow gro

Yamashina Shirojuro in the Role of Nagoya Sanzaemon

1794-95

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor with a topknot and red checked kimono, grimacing with wide eyes against a gray background.

Arashi Ryūzō I as Ishibe Kinkichi in the Play "Hana Ayame Bunroku Soga"

1794

Nakayama Tomisaburō as Miyagino in the Play "Katakiuchi Noriyaibanashi"

1794

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor in grey hakama and red kimono with crests, holding a sword, against a patterned background.

The Actor Sawamura Sojuro III

1794-95

Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Komazō III as Shiga Daishichi in the Play A Medley of Tales of Revenge (Katakiuchi noriaibanashi)

5th month, 1794

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor with a topknot in a red kimono with white crests against a gray background.

Ichikawa Ebizō IV as Takemura Sadanojō in the Play Koinyōbō Somewake Tazuna

1794

Kabuki Actor Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei

1794

Woodblock print portrait of a man with topknot holding a lantern, wearing a red kimono with crests against a gray background.

Bandō Hikosaburō III as Sagisaka Sanai in the Play "Koinyōbō Somewake Tazuna"

1794

Ukiyo-e print of two kabuki actors, one standing in a red checkered kimono and one kneeling in olive robes with swords.

Ichikawa Omezō as Tomita Hyōtarō and Ōtani Oniji III as Ukiyo Tohei

1794-95

Woodblock print of a kneeling bald man in a patterned red kimono holding up a blank scroll.

Shinozuka Uraemon Reading the Prologue at the Miyakoza Theater

1794 (Kansei 6), 7th month

Ukiyo-e print of a kabuki actor with elaborate hair ornaments, black floral kimono and orange robe, against grey background.

Segawa Tomisaburō II as Yadorigi in the Play "Hana Ayame Bunroku Soga"

1794

Woodblock portrait of a kabuki actor with topknot, frowning, holding a gilded-hilt sword in a white patterned kimono.

Bandō Mitsugorō II as Ishii Genzō in the Play "Hana-ayame Bunroku Soga"

ca. 1794

Woodblock print of two kabuki actors with dramatic expressions, one with a shaved forehead and the other with long hair, agai

Sawamura Yodogorō II and Bandō Zenji as Kawatsura Hōgen and Onisadobō in the Play "Koinyōbō Somewake Tazuna"

1794

Woodblock portrait of a man in a dark kimono with a folding fan and sword hilt, against a grey background.

Onoe Matsusuke I as Matsushita Mikinojō in the Play "Katakiuchi noriyaibanashi"

1794

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor with pale face and head cloth, in a blue patterned kimono with red collar, against dark gro

Kabuki Actor Morita Kan’ya VIII as the Palanquin-Bearer in the Play A Medley of Tales of Revenge (Katakiuchi noriaiba…

5th month, 1794

Japanese woodblock print of two kabuki actors, one in a checked robe with a wooden box, one in a red crested kimono.

Nakajima Wadaemon and Nakamura Konozō as Bōdara no Chōzaemon and Kanagawaya no Gon in the Play "Katakiuchi noriyaiban…

1794

Woodblock print of a standing man in a striped kimono looking down at a kneeling woman in a patterned robe.

Bandō Hikosaburō III in the Role of Obiya Chōemon and Iwai Hanshiro IV in the Role of Shinanoya Ohan, from the Play “…

1794-95

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor in patterned samurai robes holding a long sword against a yellow background.

Ichikawa Danjuro VI as Funa Bansaku,son of Fuwa Banzayemon

1794-95

Japanese woodblock print of two kabuki actors in costume, one in a brown robe with crests and one in a pink floral kimono, on

Actor Segawa Tomisaburo II as the Courtesan Toyama and Actor Ichikawa Kurizo as Higashiyama Yoshiwakamaru

1794-95

Bandō Mitsugorō II as the Farmer Asakusa no Jirōsaku

1794-95

Woodblock print of a seated figure in black floral kimono and orange robe against a yellow background.

Actor Nakamura Kumetaro II as Minato, the Wife of Yura Hyogonosuke

1794-95

Japanese woodblock print of a standing figure in a striped kimono holding a cloth to the mouth before a lattice screen.

Osagawa Tsuneyo II as the hairdresser O-Roku

1794-95

Woodblock print of a kabuki actor in white kimono and torn black cloak, biting an orange cloth beside a wooden signboard.

Morita Kanya VIII as Kawachi Kanja, Disguised as Genkaibo

1794-95

For just ten months, Sharaku designed woodblock prints of kabuki actors, and he made 144 known portraits in that time. He showed large noses and the wrinkles of ageing actors, while artists like Utamaro made their sitters beautiful. The Edo public didn't like it, and his prints stopped in the first month of 1795. Nobody knows his real name or when he was born or died. Researchers have proposed more than fifty identities, from a Noh actor to Hokusai, but none is widely accepted. Browse 114 works by Tōshūsai Sharaku from 6 museums, free to download in HD. Source: Wikipedia

Tōshūsai Sharaku

Artworks