Ichikawa Danjuro Fifth as Kyo no Jiro in Disguise as Dekuroku byoe the Stree Puppet-showman 1778 - 1798

This woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga depicts Ichikawa Danjuro the Fifth as Kyo no Jiro in disguise, probably dating from the late 18th century. It suggests the blurring of social boundaries in the popular Kabuki theatre of Edo period Japan. In this period, the theatre was a space where social hierarchies could be playfully inverted, and where the lives of the merchant class were celebrated, even though they were officially excluded from political power. The image creates meaning through its visual codes, the most prominent being the theatrical disguise. The actor, Ichikawa Danjuro, a star in his own right, plays another character who is also in disguise! This print offers insight into the social and cultural life of Edo period Japan, where theatre provided a space for both entertainment and social commentary. Such images and the theatre culture they reflect can be further illuminated by researching playbills, government records, and contemporary accounts of theatrical performances. The meaning of such art is always contingent on social and institutional context.