Nine Prints Depicting Dual Portraits of Actors in Roles 1842 - 1862

Utagawa Hirosada made these woodblock prints of actors in Japan during the 19th century. The dual portraits reflect the popular Kabuki theatre tradition of showcasing actors in multiple roles within the same play, highlighting their versatility. The prints use visual cues like costume, makeup, and pose, to communicate character. The stylized expressions and vibrant colours are characteristic of Ukiyo-e prints, which catered to a rising urban merchant class with an appetite for depictions of fashionable life, including the world of entertainment. The Kabuki theatre itself was both an art form and a social institution, and prints such as these served as a form of publicity. They shaped the public’s perception of actors and plays. Understanding these prints requires knowledge of Kabuki theatre conventions, and the social context of Japan at the time. Researching playbills, theatre reviews, and the biographies of actors helps to reveal the meanings that would have been clear to the print's original audience.