Untitled

Untitled

Torii Kiyonobu

1696

ink

From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art

About this work

This print shows a performer in bright, bold colors—red, yellow, and black robes—mid-motion, one arm raised as if singing or dancing. The outfit has intricate patterns, and they hold a fan in one hand while a scroll or paper rests on their shoulder. Their face is stylized, with a calm expression and a small hat tilted to one side. The clothes and pose suggest this is a theater actor, likely from a Japanese stage tradition. The way the colors pop and the lines are sharp makes it feel full of energy. If you like this, look up actor to see how performers like this were portrayed in old Japanese art.

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