Board game of the Flower Stage (Hanabutai atari sugoroku) 1883

Toyohara Kunichika created this woodblock print called *Board Game of the Flower Stage* sometime in the late 19th century. The overall impression is one of dynamic energy, achieved through bold color choices, especially the prevalent reds, and the compressed arrangement of many figures. The print is organized into rectangular cells like a game board, each containing dramatic portraits of Kabuki actors. The composition reflects Kunichika’s command of *ukiyo-e* traditions while subtly challenging them. The grid structure, uncommon in earlier prints, hints at a modern sensibility, reminiscent of early experiments with serial imagery. We might consider how the modular format disrupts the narrative flow typically found in *ukiyo-e* prints, inviting viewers to navigate the scenes non-linearly. Each panel, frozen in media res, captures a heighted emotional moment – betrayal, anguish and resolution. The highly stylized makeup and costumes are part of a semiotic system where colour and pattern communicate aspects of character and plot. This work is not just a record of the Kabuki theatre; it is an active engagement with representation, theatricality and the unfolding of meaning through visual signs.