Sharaku

Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei (1794) - Framed & Mounted Print

Size Guide

• Print Details
• The Art
• Shipping and Returns

• Capturing the beauty of the original artwork

  Every one of our prints is made using the Giclee printing process, for a museum-quality look and feel that does justice to the original art.

  Giclee printing is the gold-standard for preserving the meticulous detail and stunning colors that we love in the Japanese masters. All our prints are fade and fingerprint resistant, so you can enjoy their beauty for years to come.

  We chose to offer 12”x18” (30cm x 45cm) as this was closest to the “chuban” size sheets used for woodblock prints historically.

  All of our prints come with matte finish for a more authentic appearance.

  Framing Options:
  

  • Unframed
  • Framed - black
  • Canvas wrap

  Ready-to-Hang and Made to Last

  Mounting brackets are included and centered on our framed prints and canvas wraps.

  All of our prints are made to last, with fade-resistant colors and materials. See how they arrive in the unboxing videos below.

• About the Art

  Hunched and grimacing, the character of Yakko Edobei glares menacingly into the distance. This piece is taken from the play "The Colored Reins of a Loving Wife", a Kabuki play that was originally written for ‘Bunraku’, or puppet theatre.

  The story is one of a forbidden love between a courtesan and one of Lord Umanosuke’s retainers. A 'Yakko' refers to a samurai’s footman, and is a common character in Kabuki dramas used to assist the quest of the hero or villain. Featuring multiple sub-plots, this play has undergone many adaptations in an attempt at simplifying its storyline. It is reported that Harusuke, an accomplished playwright who adapted the original story, was so enraged by the play’s poor construction that he attacked his co-writer with a knife.

  Sharaku is known for his incredibly realistic illustrations. Unlike many kabuki specialists, Sharaku was fascinated by the person behind the mask; the actors themselves. In an attempt at gaining psychological realism, he ignored his contemporaries who seeked to flatter the kabuki actors. In fact, Sharaku even exaggerated their facial features. Sharaku’s ‘warts-and-all’ method of designing received bad reception and offended many actors of the time. Although he created nearly 150 incredible prints, his working life as an artist spanned a period of only ten months before he seemingly disappeared, and there is no evidence of Sharaku having had training with any ukiyo-e masters. In Japan he’s named the “enigmatic ukiyo-e master” and Sharaku’s life is still very much a mystery.

• We're proud to offer a shipping policy that compares favorably with any online retailer.

  Country	Product	Shipping Cost	Shipping Time (Business Days)
  🇺🇸 | United States	Any	Free	5-7
  🌏 | Worldwide	Varies by weight - calculated at checkout	$20-50	Varies

  You can find full details regarding shipping and delivery here.

  We're sure you'll love your prints. However, if there are any problems with the printing, we're happy to offer a free exchange or refund 100% of the purchase price. Simply return the print within 30 days. For full details of our refunds and exchanges policy click here.