Portrait of the Actor Nakayama Tomisaburo as a Woman
1800
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1800
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This image shows a person dressed as a woman, wearing a tall black hat with a fan tucked inside. Their face is turned slightly away, and they hold a small fan in one hand. The outfit has a red and white patterned sleeve, and the background is plain with a few simple brushstrokes. The writing around the edges suggests this is a Japanese woodblock print, a common way to make art in that time. The person’s face looks calm, but the hat and fan hint at a performance or role-play. If you like this style, look up *Utagawa Kunimasa*, the artist who made it.
