Acteur als werkman 1852

Utagawa Kunisada created this woodblock print, "Acteur als werkman," the dimensions of which are 363 mm in height and 254 mm in width. This artwork resides at the Rijksmuseum. During Kunisada’s time, Japan was undergoing significant societal shifts, as the merchant class was gaining prominence. Kunisada often depicted Kabuki actors, who were celebrities in their own right, capturing their personas both on and off stage. Here, we see the actor with a determined, almost pained expression, pulling a thick rope, his body cloaked in what appears to be a plaid blanket, a nod to the working class. Yet, the background reveals scenes of leisure: perhaps fishing or a tranquil landscape. In Japanese culture, there was often a blurring of lines between different social classes within art and entertainment. Kabuki, for instance, drew audiences from all walks of life. Kunisada’s work offers a glimpse into the intricate dance between representation and reality, labor and leisure. The image invites us to consider the layers of identity and representation that Kunisada explores, blending the grit of manual labor with the refinement of artistic expression.