Kinugawa Tanizō in A Mirror of Brave and Loyal Wrestlers (Chūkō Sekitori Kagami)
1848
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1848
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This print shows a large, dramatic face with a bold white complexion and exaggerated features. The person has a big nose, a small red mouth, and dark, wavy hair tied back. They’re wearing a black wig and holding a fan in one hand while adjusting their hair with the other. The background is mostly dark, with a blue sign above their head and a few swirling lines on the right side. The fan and the blue sign with Japanese writing suggest this is a theater character, possibly from a play. The bold colors and strong contrasts make the face stand out sharply. Next, look up Gosōtei Hirosada (Japanese) to see more prints like this.
