Print 1834 - 1866

This woodblock print was made by Utagawa Sadakage in Japan sometime in the mid-19th century. It depicts an actor from the Kabuki theatre, against a background of stylized landscape and a rising sun. Woodblock prints in 19th century Japan were tied into a system of mass media and celebrity culture. Kabuki actors were among the most famous celebrities of the time. The prints were affordable and accessible to a wide public, fuelling a booming publishing industry. During the Edo period in Japan, the Tokugawa shogunate enacted strict censorship laws, with the intention of maintaining social order. These prints, along with other forms of popular culture, had to be carefully designed so as not to upset the status quo. To fully understand the significance of this print, we need to consult a range of historical sources, from theatre programmes to government records. Only then can we appreciate its role in the social and cultural landscape of 19th century Japan.