Ichikawa Ebizo III as Yanone Goro in Nenriki arahitogami
1758
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1758
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows a man in bright red robes sharpening an arrowhead. His black hair stands out against the plain background. A small paper sign above his head says “Happy New Year.” In 1758, prints like this were pasted on walls to celebrate plays. The actor Ichikawa Ebizo III posed as the bold hero Goro in a famous drama. People loved Goro’s flashy clothes and silly jokes on stage. If you like this bold style, check out prints by Torii Kiyonobu II (Japanese, 1706–1763).
