The Actor Bandō Hikosaburō 1st (?) 1715 - 1735

This woodblock print depicts the actor Bandō Hikosaburō I, made by Torii Kiyonobu I in Japan. It captures the actor in a dramatic pose, likely from a Kabuki performance. Kabuki emerged during the Edo period as a popular, and at times subversive, form of entertainment. Notice the exaggerated makeup and costume which were visual codes that conveyed character and emotion to the audience. The Torii school of artists, to which Kiyonobu belonged, specialized in these actor prints, playing a crucial role in popularizing Kabuki and its stars. The government frequently tried to regulate Kabuki because it drew large crowds and was considered morally questionable by some. These prints thus existed in a complex relationship to social norms of the time, at once celebrating popular culture while also navigating censorship. By studying playbills, diaries, and other historical documents, we can better understand the social context of these prints and the complex relationship between art, entertainment, and power in Edo period Japan. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.