The Actor Ichikawa Omezo

Object Details

• Artist

  Toshusai Sharaku

• Label

  Sharaku's dramatic portraits of actors, which often focus on the head and torso, are among the most famous images in the history of Japanese prints. Here the actor Ichikawa Omezo plays a footman (yakko) who prepares to draw his sword to defend his young master. Although the color of the actor's red robe has nearly disappeared, the compressed composition and the actor's exaggerated expression convey the tension of the moment. Little is reliably known about Sharaku, whose brief and brilliant production of actor prints continues to stimulate debate, speculation, and imaginative fiction. The stark realism of this portrait is enhanced by a shimmering dark mica background, a striking feature of many of Sharaku's actor portraits.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Floating World: Ukiyo-e Paintings and Prints (December 8, 2002 to May 26, 2003)

  Japanese Theatre in the Edo Period (July 22, 1985 to October 15, 1985)

  Japanese Prints (December 1, 1978 to April 12, 1979)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer

• Type

  Print

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Toshusai, Sharaku

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Theater, Yakusha-e, Art, Actors and actresses, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Ukiyo-e

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Prints