Iwai Kiyotaro (Edoya) as Okaru (from the series Pictures of Actors Onstage)
1794
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1794
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This print shows a woman in a long, flowing robe with a checkered pattern in reds and blacks. Her sleeves are wide, and she’s holding one hand near her chest. Her hair is styled high with a decorative pin, and she’s wearing a simple, light-colored undergarment underneath. The background is plain, keeping all focus on her. The checkered fabric and bold lines suggest this is a stage costume from a play. The artist used flat colors and strong outlines, which was common in Japanese woodblock prints of the time. Next, look up Utagawa Toyokuni to see more of his work.
