Ichikawa Raizo as Abe no Seimei
1764
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1764
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This print shows a man in a rich, patterned robe, holding a fan and a long staff. His face is bold and expressive, with a slight smile. Behind him, a tree branch and a parasol add to the scene, while Japanese text is written along the edges. The man’s outfit looks like a kabuki actor’s costume, suggesting he’s playing a character. The bold lines and simple colors focus attention on his confident pose. Next, check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create drama.
