De acteur Nakamura Tomijuro II als apendresseur 1838

Hasegawa Sadanobu created this woodblock print depicting the actor Nakamura Tomijuro II in an unknown year. Sadanobu lived during the Edo period, a time of strict social hierarchy and artistic flourishing in Japan. Here, Nakamura Tomijuro II is represented not in a traditional theatrical role, but as an everyday figure—an ape trainer. This blurring of boundaries reflects the period’s interest in the lives of those outside the elite. Notice the way the actor’s face is carefully rendered, emphasizing his identity, while the monkey is almost cartoonish. The performance of identity, so central to Kabuki theater, finds a parallel in the trained monkey, both figures navigating the expectations of their roles. The contrast invites us to consider how identity is constructed and performed, particularly within a rigid social structure. Sadanobu uses the print medium to capture a transient moment in time, asking us to reflect on the stories we tell about ourselves and others.