Ichikawa Yaozo II as Sakuramaru

1776

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Ichikawa Yaozo II as Sakuramaru is a 1776 by Katsukawa Shunshō, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Katsukawa Shunshō
When & what style?: 1776 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This print shows a man in a loose, checkered robe and bare feet, holding a fan while another man leans in close behind him. The man in front has a calm face with bold black lines for features, and his arms are covered in tattoo-like designs. The background is simple—a dark shape that looks like a curtain or roof behind them. The tattoos on his arms are a mix of flowers and waves, which might hint at a story or role he’s playing. This style of print was meant to look like a theater scene. Next, check out Katsukawa Shunshō to see how he painted other actors.