The Actor Tsutsui Kichijuro c. 1704

Torii Kiyomasu I created the woodblock print, 'The Actor Tsutsui Kichijuro', around the turn of the 18th century. The print is a window into the vibrant, yet complex world of the Edo period Japanese theater. It depicts the actor Tsutsui Kichijuro, and the fact that this print exists speaks to the celebrity status afforded to Kabuki actors. Kabuki performances were often held in pleasure districts where the lines between the stage and the audience blurred. There is a sensuality to this portrait, but it remains somewhat chaste; gender roles were fluid, and cross-dressing was common. The artist captures the essence of this cultural moment. The elaborate kimono, adorned with bold patterns and colors, tells us something of the performative nature of identity, and the ambiguous nature of gender. Note how the artist elevates not just the actor, but the entire world of Kabuki itself.