Sawamura Sōjūrō II and Ōtani Hiroji III

This woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunsho depicts the actors Sawamura Sōjūrō II and Ōtani Hiroji III, and was made in Japan in the late 18th century. The print belongs to the ukiyo-e tradition, which flourished in the Edo period. Ukiyo-e prints such as this one often depicted scenes from popular culture, including kabuki theatre. Kabuki was not only a theatrical form, but also a social event. Prints of actors, like those displayed here, served to amplify the actors fame. The art of ukiyo-e was tied to the rise of a new urban middle class, and prints were often made available at affordable prices, creating a new audience for art. The study of these prints is a fascinating area of research that involves the close analysis of social history and popular culture.