The Actors Arashi Kitsusaburō II as the Hairdresser Kamiyui Tasuke, and Arashi Koroku IV as Gonza the Lancer (Yari no Gonza) 1824

This woodblock print, made by Gigadō Ashiyuki, captures actors in character, likely during the early 19th century. The composition immediately strikes you with its tension, created by the actors' intense expressions and the claustrophobic, flattened space. Ashiyuki plays with the push and pull between representation and abstraction through patterns. Observe how the geometric patterns on their robes flatten the figures, turning them into surfaces for design. Yet, these patterns also define their roles: the hairdresser in floral purple, the lancer in bold checks. The faces, masks of emotion, contribute to this interplay. The print destabilizes traditional portraiture. It's less about individual likeness and more about the performance of identity through carefully constructed signs. The lantern and fan aren't just props; they are symbols within a theatrical language. Consider the tension between surface and depth, representation and abstraction, as crucial to understanding the print's effect. It invites us to decode the visual cues and appreciate how Ashiyuki uses form to convey complex narratives within the floating world of Japanese theater.