Entertainers performing the hobby-horse dance c. 1764

Torii Kiyomitsu created this woodblock print, "Entertainers Performing the Hobby-Horse Dance," in the 18th century. Its composition is dominated by a series of figures arranged across a shallow pictorial space, creating a dynamic yet somewhat compressed scene. The dancers, with their elaborate costumes and stylized movements, are rendered through a delicate interplay of line and color. Kiyomitsu masterfully uses line to define the forms, while subtle color variations enhance the visual rhythm. The flattened perspective, typical of ukiyo-e prints, pushes the figures to the foreground, emphasizing their patterned garments and expressive gestures. The formal construction invites us to consider the relationship between representation and artifice. The print can be interpreted as a commentary on the artificiality inherent in theatrical performance, where reality is mediated through stylized gestures and symbolic costumes. The Hobby-Horse dance is not merely depicted, it is deconstructed through the formal elements of the print.