Sakata Hangorō III in the Role of Fujikawa Mizuemon

In the 5th month (May) of Kansei 6 (1794), the print artist Sharaku made a stunning debut with his set of 28 bust-portrait images, printed in ôban large format with mica-printed enhancements, all depicting the actors of Edo's three most famous kabuki theaters of the day. The artistic rendering exaggerated the telltale features of each actor, while the carefully handled internal compositions set new standards for actor prints which had become mere set pieces. This print takes as its subject Sakata Hangorô III in the role of Fujikawa Mizuemon, the villain in the play Hana-ayame Bunroku Soga then being performed at the Miyako-za Theater. The print depicts the scene of Ishii Genzô fighting his father's enemy Mizuemon. Rather than enhancing the actor's looks, Sharaku depicts the loathsome features of the hero's opponent in the tale.