The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro IV as Kudo Suketsune in the play "Hatsugai Wada no Sakamori," performed at the Nakamura Theater in the first month, 1759 1759

This woodblock print was created in 1759 by Torii Kiyomitsu and captures Ichikawa Danjuro IV in the role of Kudo Suketsune, from the play "Hatsugai Wada no Sakamori." This work provides a glimpse into the Edo period, a time marked by the flourishing of Kabuki theater and a rigid social hierarchy. Kiyomitsu’s rendering of Danjuro IV is more than a portrait; it’s a study in gender and class. The exaggerated makeup, the elaborate costume, and the powerful stance are all conventions of Kabuki, where male actors often play female roles. In Kabuki theater, gender is performed and stylized, challenging the rigid norms of the time. The actor's identity becomes a canvas, exploring the fluidity of gender roles within the structured confines of Japanese society. This print invites us to consider how performance can both reflect and subvert social expectations, allowing us to explore complex identities in a rapidly changing world.