The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon VIII as Taira no Koremochi and Arashi Koroku as Makomo no Mae in the play "Shusse Momijigari," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the eleventh month, 1747 1747

This vibrant woodblock print was created in 1747 by Torii Kiyonobu II, and it depicts actors in a Kabuki play. The process behind Ukiyo-e prints like this one involved a collaboration between the artist, block carver, printer, and publisher. The artist first made a black-and-white design. Then, skilled artisans would carve the woodblocks, one for each color. Printing was done by hand, layering colors to create the final image. The texture of the paper and the careful alignment of the blocks are integral to the print’s overall appearance. Kabuki theater was closely tied to the rising merchant class, and Ukiyo-e prints like this were popular, affordable collectibles. By depicting famous actors, Kiyonobu II catered to the tastes of a broad audience, connecting the world of theater with the everyday lives of people in Edo-period Japan. The print embodies the social and cultural energies of its time.