The Actor Ichikawa Yaozo II as Soga no Dozaburo (?) in the Play Kamuri Kotoba Soga no Yukari (?), Performed at the Ichimura Theater (?) in the First Month, 1776 (?) c. 1776

This print, made in 1776 by Katsukawa Shunko, depicts the actor Ichikawa Yaozo II in character. It's a woodblock print, meaning the image was carved into a block of wood, inked, and then transferred to paper. The key to appreciating this print is understanding the labor involved. The artist had to be a skilled carver, able to translate the actor's likeness into a precise design on the block. And, of course, the actor himself contributed his own work: his performance! The material qualities of the print – its flat planes of color, the bold outlines, and the subtle texture of the paper – all speak to this process. The print is not just an image, but an object that embodies a specific moment in time, capturing the actor’s performance. By looking closely at the materials and the process, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural significance of this seemingly simple image.