Artwork

東洲斎写楽画四代岩井半四郎の重の井『恋女房染分手綱』|Iwai Hanshirō IV as Shigenoi in the Play "Koinyōbō Somewake Tazuna"

東洲斎写楽画四代岩井半四郎の重の井『恋女房染分手綱』|Iwai Hanshirō IV as Shigenoi in the Play "Koinyōbō Somewake Tazuna" is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Tōshūsai Sharaku. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the British Museum.

About this work

You see a sharp-faced actor in a red-and-white robe, one eyebrow raised, lips pressed tight.

You see a sharp-faced actor in a red-and-white robe, one eyebrow raised, lips pressed tight. The background shimmers with tiny flecks of mica that catch the light like glitter.

Sharaku made these prints for only ten months in 1794, then vanished. No one knows why he stopped or where he went. The actor’s exaggerated features feel almost like a modern close-up, unusual for the time.

If you like this bold style, look up actors next.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts the actor Iwai Hanshirō IV portraying the female role of Shigenoi in the kabuki play 'Koinyōbō Somewake Tazuna'. Created in 1794 by Tōshūsai Sharaku, this nishiki-e woodblock print belongs to the yakusha-e genre, which focuses on portraits of theater performers. As an ōkubi-e, the composition emphasizes the actor's head and upper torso, capturing the specific makeup, costume, and expressive demeanor associated with the character.

The image represents the intersection of theatrical performance and visual art, immortalizing Hanshirō's interpretation of a woman within the context of Edo-period popular culture.

Technique & Style

Created in 1794, this work is a woodblock print produced using ink, color, and white mica on paper. As a quintessential example of the ukiyo-e tradition, it belongs to the nishiki-e (full-color) and yakusha-e (actor portrait) genres. The piece is formally classified as an ōkubi-e, a style characterized by a large-headed bust portrait that emphasizes the subject's facial expression and costume details over full-body context.

The application of white mica adds a subtle texture and sheen to the surface, enhancing the visual impact of the actor's portrayal.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in 1794 as part of Sharaku’s series of actor portraits. It shows Iwai Hanshirō IV in the role of Shigenoi from the drama “Koinyōbō Somewake Tazuna.” The work is held in the collections of the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, indicating a provenance that includes institutional acquisition after its creation.

Overview

This 1794 woodblock print by Tōshūsai Sharaku portrays the actor Iwai Hanshirō IV in the role of Shigenoi from the kabuki drama Koinyōbō Somewake Tazuna. Executed with ink, color and a sprinkling of white mica on paper, the image captures a moment of theatrical intensity, highlighted by a glittering background that catches ambient light.