Here are the points how great Sharaku is!
Allure & Characteristics of Tōshūsai Sharaku
Here are all about allure & characteristics of works by Sharaku here. First, “Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei”, a
drawing of kabuki actor, is the most famous work of him over the world. The face and hands of the kabuki actor in
the print seems to be about to get in motion, which gives the print huge impacts and the print express well about
actor’s wide eyebrows clearly. “Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei” is the print of drawing of the upper part of body
but there is another print in which be drawn the entire body.
The ways of drawing the face of female actor in “Ichikawa Komazō III as Kameya Chūbei and Nakayama Tomisaburō as
Umegawa” is similar to “Segawa Kikunojo”, a debut work, drawn by Hokusai in 1779. Speaking of the beauties of
this era, there might be the reasons for some similarities such as single-edged eyelid, long and narrow eyes, a
pursy mouth. It might be the popular way of drawing at that time.
It is said that Sharaku had disappeared all of sudden at the new year’s day of the next year in spite of a
gorgeous debut in May of 1794. His 146 drawings which had been created during the 10 months divided into 4
periods by the scholars. The ōkubi yakusha-e only was published with the background of kirazuri first.
His popularity tells that not only there are so many works of him but also different versions of the same
printings as Sharaku’s personalities were expressed well of his life.
I guess the image of Sharaku for all of us nowadays is all about the works of this period. I also love the works
of him during this period after all.
Article: Princess Kamaboko
