The actor Ōtani Oniji Ⅲ as Yakko Edobei「三世大谷鬼次の奴江戸兵衛」

This artwork is called Portraits(似顔絵). In this genre, the writer paints the faces of kabuki actors. The artist is Toshusai Shigaku(東洲斎写楽). He was an active writer for only 10 months from May 1794 to February 1795. He is said to be a genius ukiyo-e artist with many mysteries and is characterized by exaggerated expressions on his kabuki actor's face. This work is based on Kawarazaki-za(河原崎座)'s scene of "Koi Nyobo Somewake Tazuna(恋女房染分手綱)." In this work, Sharaku used a technique called "Kirazuri雲母摺" in which the background was painted out in one color with mica powder(雲母の粉). This technique has the effect of making the work sparkle depending on the angle of view.