This is from a famous kabuki play "Keisei Umekawa"; the actors are Ichikawa Komazo III (三代目市川高麗蔵) on the right, acting as "Kameya Chubei (亀屋忠兵衛)", and Nakayama Tomisaburo I (初代中山富三郎) as the courtesan named "Keisei Umekawa (傾城梅川)."

Sharaku depicted the lovers in this tragic story very realistically, and kabuki fans of the time, who were familiar with each actor, would have instantly recognized them.

The embossed patterns on each actor's undergarments are very beautiful.