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The Actor Onoe Matsusuke

Katsukawa Shunshō

1759

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque 18th Century

Dominant colour

The Actor Onoe Matsusuke is a 1759 by Katsukawa Shunshō, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Katsukawa Shunshō
When & what style?: 1759 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

The painting shows a man dressed in traditional Japanese clothing. He's an actor, and his face is expressive. You can see intricate details in his costume and accessories. This work is interesting because it gives us a glimpse into Japan's Edo period. The artist paid attention to the actor's pose and expression. To learn more about this style, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.

The story of this work

Overview

Shunsho was a well-known painter and printmaker in Edo (present-day Tokyo) who dominated the actor print field. He was very important as a teacher to some of the most talented artists of the next generation, including Shunko, Shunzan, and Shunei.

Read the full account in the museum source.