Artwork

Sawamura Sojuro III as Enya Hangan in Kanadehon Chushingura

Sawamura Sojuro III as Enya Hangan in Kanadehon Chushingura, by Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英, 1795
Sawamura Sojuro III as Enya Hangan in Kanadehon Chushingura, by Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英, 1795

Sawamura Sojuro III as Enya Hangan in Kanadehon Chushingura is a print by the Romanticist artist Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1795 woodblock print, Sawamura Sojuro III as Enya Hangan in Kanadehon Chushingura, is a work by Katsukawa Shunei, a prominent ukiyo-e artist known for his yakusha-e portraits of kabuki actors.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts Sawamura Sojuro III in the role of Enya Hangan from the kabuki play Kanadehon Chushingura, shown in a formal pose with a stern expression, conveying dignity and gravity.

Technique & Style

Shunei specialized in ōkubi-e bust portraits, and this work showcases his skill in capturing the actor's likeness and conveying the character's emotional state through a formal, dignified pose.

History & Provenance

Created in 1795, the print is an example of Shunei's work from a period when he was actively producing ōkubi-e portraits, a format he began using around 1791.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.