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Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō IV

Katsukawa Shunkō

1786

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō IV is a 1786 by Katsukawa Shunkō, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Katsukawa Shunkō
When & what style?: 1786 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

A man in colorful, patterned robes kneels on one knee, holding a rooster in his left hand. His right hand rests on a tall spear, and he wears a sword at his side. The background is simple, with a few faint lines suggesting a fence or wall. The clothing has bold outlines and flat colors, with some shading on his face and arms. Notice how the rooster’s feathers are detailed but still stylized—this was common in Japanese woodblock prints. The artist used strong lines and simple shapes to show movement and character. Check out Katsukawa Shunkō next to see more of his bold, expressive portraits.