Arashi Rikan II as Kizu Kansuke

Ashiyuki employed the traditional nishiki-e multicolour woodblock method, layering pigments to achieve a striking contrast of black and white garments punctuated by vivid red, blue and yellow accents. The composition is flat and frontal, with a plain background that isolates the performer, a common device in promotional prints to maximise visual impact.

Printed in 1829 for a specific kabuki run, the handbill circulated among theatre‑goers in Edo (modern Tokyo). It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Asian art holdings through a 20th‑century acquisition, where it remains catalogued as an example of early‑19th‑century actor portraiture.

During the late Edo period, actor prints (yakusha-e) were a popular form of mass media, celebrating star performers and advertising upcoming shows. Arashi Rikan II was among the era’s leading actors, and his portrayal of Kizu Kansuke would have drawn audiences familiar with both the historical figure and the dramatic conventions of kabuki.