The Actor Ichikawa Komazo I in the role of Utou Yarukata 1749 - 1769

This ukiyo-e print by Kitao Shigemasa depicts the famous kabuki actor Ichikawa Komazo I in the role of Utou Yarukata, a character from the play "The Flower of Edo" by Miyoshi Shoraku. The work is a "yakusha-e" (actor portrait), a genre popular during the Edo Period (1603-1868). The artist used vivid colors and fine lines to capture the actor's expression and elaborate costume, a testament to the artistry and popularity of kabuki theater in 18th-century Japan. The print is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.