Actor Ichikawa Komazo II as Shiga Daishichi

This is a representative Sharaku piece, depicting Ichikawa Koraizo as the villain Shiga Daishichi with a piercing gaze and a tense expression.

The actor's powerful fingers and firm mouth convey his concentration on his performance and his inner fighting spirit. Sharaku excelled not only at depicting physical appearances, but also at depicting the inner workings of characters, and in this work he skillfully captures the complexity of human emotion.

This masterpiece, with its suspenseful composition, exudes quiet power and a deep, lingering impact. It is a truly living portrait, combining Edo performing arts with Sharaku's psychological depictions.

The artist, Toshusai Sharaku, was an enigmatic ukiyo-e artist active in the mid-Edo period. Although his career lasted only about 10 months, he left behind a body of work exuding intense individuality, particularly in his portrayals of actors. His sharp portrayals of characters' inner lives, using exaggerated facial expressions and bold compositions, overturned conventional wisdom of the time. His true identity remains a mystery, and his mysterious quality is part of his appeal.