Memorial Portrait of Sawamura Sojuro III as Satsuma Gengobei
1800
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1800
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting depicts a man with a serious expression, wearing a green robe and a white head covering. He is shown from the chest up, with his head turned slightly to the right. The background is dark, with some Japanese characters written in white. The man's facial expression is stern, with a hint of sadness in his eyes. His clothing is simple yet elegant, with intricate folds in the fabric. The overall mood of the painting is somber and contemplative. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth, explore the works of Utagawa Toyokuni.
