Print 1800 - 1865

Utagawa Kunisada created this woodblock print in nineteenth-century Japan. It depicts a Kabuki theatre scene, and the exaggerated poses and expressions would have been familiar visual cues to Japanese audiences of the time. Kabuki was a popular form of entertainment in Japan, particularly among the merchant classes, whose increasing wealth allowed them greater cultural influence. Woodblock prints like this one served as publicity for Kabuki theatre and also allowed ordinary people to own images of their favourite actors. Kunisada’s work provides a valuable insight into the aesthetic tastes, social structures, and theatrical traditions of nineteenth-century Japan. Researching theatre ephemera and social histories of Japan helps us understand the cultural context that shaped Kunisada's art and the meanings it held for its original audience. The historian’s role is vital in uncovering these layers of meaning and understanding how art reflects and shapes the world around it.