Kabuki Actor Segawa Kikunojō III as the Shirabyōshi Hisakata of Miyako Kujō 1794

This print by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicts a Kabuki actor, and was made using woodblock printing, a quintessential technique of the Edo period. Consider the process: each color requires a separate block, meticulously carved, inked, and pressed onto paper. This division of labor – from the artist who designs the image, to the carvers, printers, and publishers – reflects a highly commercialized art world. Woodblock prints were not precious unique objects, but mass-produced images for consumption by a wide audience. The lines are clean and the colors subtle, creating a sense of elegance, but the very nature of woodblock printing speaks to a different aesthetic. This was popular art, made affordable through the efficiency of its production. The fleeting fame of Kabuki actors immortalized in prints, a parallel to our own celebrity culture. So, when looking at this print, remember that it’s not just about the image itself, but also about the complex network of makers and consumers that brought it into being, challenging any simple distinction between high art and popular culture.