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The Actor Nakamura Nakazo in Shibaraku in Dark Green Robes

Katsukawa Shunshō 勝川春章

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a Japanese woodblock print of an actor, Nakamura Nakazo, in a scene from Shibaraku. The actor wears a vibrant orange kimono underneath a dark green outer robe with a white design, consisting of three circles and a long vertical shape, resembling the letter "I". The robe's bottom appears to be caught in a way that makes it look like the man is crouching or falling. His hair is styled in a traditional topknot with bangs swept to one side. The man holds a sword at his side with both hands; the sword's handle is wrapped in a patterned material, and its scabbard matches the kimono. To the right of the man, there is a wall with vertical black Japanese characters and a red tassel hanging from a gold hook. The background features beige walls and a floor. There are yellow sliding doors or shoji screens across the top. The overall color palette consists of muted and bright hues typical of ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

Artwork Details

Date
ca. 1781
Medium
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
282 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette