An onnagata — a male actor in a woman’s role — as the lady Yadorigi, wife of Ōgishi Kurando, in the play Hana ayame Bunroku Soga: powdered, composed, and not quite the illusion. The one early account we have says Sharaku failed because he drew people “as they really were” — this sheet is the evidence, and the reason he is now ranked among the great portraitists of any tradition. The jaw is a touch too strong, the eye too knowing: the man visible inside the role. Edo found it rude. We find it astonishing. Two performances at once: the woman, and the man performing her.

Maker: Tōshūsai Sharaku
Date: 1794
Medium of the original: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Rights: Cleared for print
Catalogue number: PA-00406

As chosen: 8 x 12 in, art print, classic frame
Picture	8 x 12 in
Outside size	9.6 x 13.6 in
Depth	0.9 in (22 mm)
Weight	[[REAL PROOF NEEDED: shipped weight per size and frame]]
Hanging	[[REAL PROOF NEEDED: hanging hardware Prodigi fits to this frame]]
Material	Enhanced matte art paper, 200 gsm; acrylic glazing
Made in	Charlotte, North Carolina, by Prodigi

Before a size goes on sale, the file is measured against it: pixels per inch at that size, how much of the picture a crop would lose, tone and sharpness. A size that fails is not offered, so there is nothing to choose wrong.

How the print check works

Sizes offered
Size	dpi	Grade	How it fits
8 x 12 in	210	Excellent	Trimmed 1.2%

Sizes withheld
Size	Why
8 x 10 in	Wrong shape: a 18% crop
11 x 14 in	Wrong shape: a 16% crop
12 x 16 in	Wrong shape: a 12% crop
12 x 18 in	140 dpi; a historical scan is never enlarged
16 x 20 in	Wrong shape: a 18% crop
16 x 24 in	105 dpi; a historical scan is never enlarged
18 x 24 in	Wrong shape: a 12% crop
20 x 30 in	84 dpi; a historical scan is never enlarged
24 x 30 in	Wrong shape: a 18% crop
24 x 36 in	70 dpi; a historical scan is never enlarged
30 x 40 in	Wrong shape: a 12% crop
36 x 48 in	Wrong shape: a 12% crop
40 x 60 in	42 dpi; a historical scan is never enlarged