The actors Kataoka Nizaemon VII as Iyo no Taro and Iwai Hanshiro IV as Kojoro-gitsune of Okazaki in the play "Seiwa Nidai Oyose Genji," performed at the Miyako Theater in the eleventh month, 1796 1796

Utagawa Toyokuni I created this woodblock print of actors in 1796, a period of social transformation and cultural vibrancy in Japan. This print captures a moment from the Kabuki play "Seiwa Nidai Oyose Genji," with actors Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Iwai Hanshiro IV embodying their characters. Kabuki was a theater form that often explored themes of gender, class, and identity. Here, the actors, both male, play roles that traverse gender lines, reflecting the fluidity of identity within Kabuki tradition. The characters are rendered with expressive detail, which invites us to consider the emotional and social dynamics at play. The stern look of Kataoka as Iyo no Taro contrasts with the subdued demeanor of Iwai as Kojoro-gitsune, creating a tension that speaks to the complex narratives of power and vulnerability. This print, in its depiction of gender and performance, offers a glimpse into the ways in which art can reflect and shape cultural understanding.