Artwork preview

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro as a Stately Woman

Katsukawa Shunkō

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Three-panel artwork featuring a male and two female figures. The male figure, central, wears a headband and no shoes. He holds an object resembling a gun or large tool over his right shoulder. His left hand is by his face and his right hand extended outward. The two female figures wear kimonos and appear on either side. The background includes a two-tone wall with a darker lower section and lighter upper section. Orange and red items are scattered on the floor and against the wall. The artwork is in a traditional Japanese style. The artist's style includes bold lines and muted colors. The composition suggests a scene from a play or performance. The figures' clothing and hairstyles are traditional Japanese. The background suggests an interior setting. The overall aesthetic is characteristic of ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

Artwork Details

Date
ca. 1785
Medium
Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
599 × 419 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette