Shunsen's 36-print actor series (1925–1929) was limited to ~150 subscribed copies per design — one of the smallest editions of any major shin-hanga publisher. Portraits of celebrated grand-lineage actors are the most contested at auction; the artist record is $7,575 at Bonhams New York (2020).
From the Shunsen Nigao-e Shu, this portrait records Nakamura Ganjiro I — the master of Kamigata wagoto acting — in the role of Sakata Tojuro, the historical actor whose romantic style Ganjiro explicitly revived and celebrated. The Kamigata (Osaka-Kyoto) theatrical tradition differed markedly from Edo kabuki in its emphasis on psychological realism and romantic feeling over physical spectacle, and Shunsen's portrait captures this quieter, more interior quality: the face warm and open, the bearing easy, the overall impression one of accessible human feeling rather than theatrical display.
1927
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
歌舞伎
Woodblock print
1955
Woodblock print
1928
Color lithograph
1930
Color lithograph
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Nakamura Ganjiro I as Sakata Tojuro (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Nakamura Ganjiro) was created by Natori Shunsen (名取春仙).
Yes — Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Nakamura Ganjiro I as Sakata Tojuro (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Nakamura Ganjiro) is part of the Creative Prints: Collection of Portraits of Actors series (print 6 of 36) by Natori Shunsen.
Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Nakamura Ganjiro I as Sakata Tojuro (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Nakamura Ganjiro) was published by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Collection of Shunsen Portraits: Nakamura Ganjiro I as Sakata Tojuro (Shunsen Nigao-e Shu: Nakamura Ganjiro) depicts kabuki.