(Scene of Arrest from an Unidentified Kabuki Play) 1851

This woodblock print was made by Utagawa Kunisada in Japan. It depicts a scene of arrest from a Kabuki play. Kabuki was a popular form of theater in Japan, and prints like these were often made to commemorate performances and popular actors. Here, visual codes indicate a world of social upheaval. The tension in the actor’s face, his defensive posture, and the officer’s raised weapon signal danger. The print reflects the social conditions of the time, particularly the strict social hierarchy and the power of law enforcement. Woodblock prints were also part of a wider commercial culture, produced for mass consumption. The study of Kabuki prints involves understanding the history of Japanese theater, printmaking techniques, and the social context in which these images were produced and consumed. Careful analysis of these prints helps us understand the complex relationship between art, entertainment, and society in 19th-century Japan.