Print 1800 - 1865

This print was made by Utagawa Kunisada in Japan, although we don't know exactly when. The image depicts a Kabuki actor in a female role, or onnagata. Kabuki, a popular form of theater in Japan, became closely associated with the floating world of pleasure districts during the Edo period. Woodblock prints such as this one helped to promote Kabuki theatre and disseminate its imagery to a wider audience. Kunisada’s image creates meaning through cultural references, like the actor’s costume and pose, which are all visual codes that would have been easily recognized by contemporary viewers. But it also tells a story, suggesting a narrative context of love and loss. The study of prints like this one is an interdisciplinary task. It requires an understanding of the cultural and historical context in which it was made, including the history of Kabuki theater and the social role of the actor.