Japonism-Ukiyoe-Ichikawa-Omezo-as-Ippei-Manservant
$310
🌏 Description
Delve into the expressive world of Edo-period kabuki through the striking woodblock portrait of Ichikawa Omezo as Ippei the Manservant, an unforgettable character study by the elusive genius Tōshūsai Sharaku. This work reveals Sharaku’s uncanny ability to distill performance into presence. Omezo, cast in the subservient role of a manservant, is depicted with both humility and subtle tension—his slightly hunched posture, narrowed gaze, and tightly drawn lips reflect the complexities of class, emotion, and theatre. Sharaku defies the glamorous norms of actor portraiture, instead embracing psychological realism and ephemeral humanity, marking this print as a masterpiece of Yakusha-e.
🔹 Key Features
• Created by legendary ukiyo-e artist Tōshūsai Sharaku
• Features Ichikawa Omezo in the role of Ippei the Manservant
• Rare example of emotional subtlety in kabuki portraiture
• Produced using traditional Japanese woodblock methods
• Part of the esteemed Adachi Institute reproduction series
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Description
🏷️ Product Specification
• Artist: Tōshūsai Sharaku (active c. 1794–1795)
• Subject: Ichikawa Omezo as Ippei
• Dimensions: Approx. 39 × 26.5 cm
• Medium: Woodblock print on handmade washi paper
• Printing Studio: Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints, Japan
• Period: Edo (1794 original)
🌸 Why Choose Ichikawa Omezo as Ippei
🎭 For the Kabuki Historian
A reflective kabuki print that captures the often overlooked depth in minor characters.
🖌️ For the Lover of Emotional Subtlety
This is Sharaku at his most restrained—evocative and compelling.
🎁 For the Giver of Quiet Power
A unique and thoughtful gift for those drawn to humility, nuance, and Japanese culture.
📜 For the Curator of Mystery
Sharaku’s brief appearance in art history makes every print a whisper from a forgotten era.
✨ Character Summary
Quiet, expressive, and human—Omezo’s Ippei reminds us that the supporting roles often hold the truest mirrors to our shared emotions.
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※ Additional Explanation
This woodblock print is a testament to Tōshūsai Sharaku’s mastery of psychological nuance. Where other artists portrayed actors in bold, idealized forms, Sharaku offered us truth—however unflattering, however fleeting. Ichikawa Omezo as Ippei is a rare exploration of a servant’s emotional space: alert yet withdrawn, observant yet resigned. His angled body and furrowed brows tell us more than words could.
What sets this piece apart is its delicate intensity. There is no theatrical exaggeration—only the raw realism of a man caught in his role, serving the narrative both on and off stage. This intimate portrait—painstakingly reproduced by the Adachi Institute—brings Sharaku’s vision into our modern view, allowing the subtleties of Edo theatre to resonate in today’s spaces.
Displayed as wall art, gifted as cultural homage, or studied as historical treasure, this piece serves not only as decoration, but as a silent narrative of identity and performance. In Ippei’s watchful eyes, we find a timeless echo of duty, restraint, and emotional honesty.
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