Kabuki Actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III, from the series Portraits of Kabuki Actors on Stage (Yakusha butai no sugata-e) 1784 - 1804

This woodblock print, created between 1784 and 1804, is part of a series by renowned Japanese artist Utagawa Toyokuni I, depicting famous Kabuki actors on stage. The print showcases Sawamura Sōjūrō III, a prominent Kabuki performer, in an elaborate costume, carrying a sword and fan, against a simple grey background. Toyokuni's detailed depiction captures the actor's dramatic presence and the vibrancy of the Edo period's theatrical culture. This work is an excellent example of ukiyo-e, a style of Japanese art depicting the floating world, often focusing on popular entertainment and everyday life.