The Second Nakamura Sukegoro as a Man Entirely Nude Save for Loin Cloth

Description

Nakamura Sukegorō II portrays a broad male figure with a bare torso above a red-orange loincloth and patterned fabric draped at one side. The legs stand apart against a dark, restrained ground. Katsukawa Shunshō gives bodily exposure and stance a central place in this theatrical encounter, keeping the named performer distinct from the character he represents.

Katsukawa Shunshō’s color woodblock print dates to 1768 or 1769. Ink and color on paper give the performance a durable form, allowing the actor’s portrayed presence to be considered outside the unfolding drama. Its appeal lies in that meeting of individual performer and character, where a limited costume still carries a specific identity without requiring a complete plot to explain it.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Katsukawa Shunshō collection.