The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 16, 2026

A horizontally oriented double-leaf of ink and color on silk and paper depicts an actor and calligraphy. Left, a figure in a wide-shouldered brown garment and turquoise robe looks back over their shoulder, swords tucked into their belt. Right, five vertical columns of black ink calligraphy are punctuated by red square seals. Sharp, precise lines and flat color fields define the actor against the neutral ground of the silk and paper.

Double-Leaf from Album of Actor Portraits

c. 1790–1810

Shōrakusai

(Japanese)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
double-leaf from an accordion-style album; ink on paper (right) and ink and color on silk (left)
Painting only: 21.8 x 17.6 cm (8 9/16 x 6 15/16 in.); Each page: 28.1 x 21 cm (11 1/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
Kelvin Smith Fund 1988.105.l
Location: Not on view
  • {{cite web|title=Double-Leaf from Album of Actor Portraits|url=false|author=Shōrakusai|year=c. 1790–1810|access-date=16 April 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1988.105.l