The Actor Ichikawa Monosuke II in an Unidentified Female Role 1779 - 1799

This print of The Actor Ichikawa Monosuke II, was created by Katsukawa Shun'ei using woodblock printing. This process is known as Ukiyo-e, a traditional Japanese technique, that literally means "pictures of the floating world." Looking at the image, consider how it was constructed, with a series of blocks carved with great precision, inked, and then carefully pressed onto paper. Each color requires its own block, meaning this print would have necessitated multiple blocks for the actor’s black kimono with white floral motifs, red curtain, and the peach-colored obi, to name a few. The final product is so precise that it appears almost effortless. Ukiyo-e prints like this one were not merely artworks, but a popular commodity, meeting the demands of a growing urban audience. The subject matter, a male actor in a female role, speaks to the fluidity of identity on the Kabuki stage, and more broadly in Japanese society at the time. Understanding the materiality and production of this print allows us to appreciate its cultural significance. The process, material, and context all invite us to look beyond traditional notions of fine art.