89 - Sharaku: Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka...

Sharaku: Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka...

This is a typical example of the genius of Tōshūsai Sharaku: Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka disguised as the Farmer Tsuchizo in the Play Intercalary Year Praise of a Famous Poem. In a sense, the portrait, which was created in 1795, has three layers. It shows an actor, playing a prince who plays a farmer. And all of them are visible in this face. This ability to catch many individuals in one is what makes Sharaku one of the greatest ukiyo-e masters.

13 - Sharaku: Actor Nakayama Tomisaburô, also called Ômiya Kinsha, as Ohisa

Sharaku: Actor Nakayama Tomisaburô, also called Ômiya Kinsha, as Ohide

This is a masterwork by one of the most eccentric artists of ukiyo-e, Tōshūsai Sharaku. Nobody knows who he was, and his career spanned only 10 months in 1794 and 1795. During that short period of time he presented about 150 prints in a unique style, almost exclusively yakusha-e, portraits of kabuki actors. His works are almost ugly, but the strength and powerful expression, and the characterisation of actor and role, reveals true genius.

"Actor Nakayama Tomisaburô, also called Ômiya Kinsha, as Ohisa", is a print from 1794. This is a man playing a woman, which is clearly visible from the facial features. The face is male. Women were forbidden to play in kabuki so all female roles were played by male actors. Such an actor, playing women, was called an Onnagata.