Ichikawa Danjuro II in the Role of Soga Goro from the Play "Yanone" 1810 - 1830

Torii Kiyomine created this woodblock print depicting Ichikawa Danjuro II in the role of Soga Goro, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. Kiyomine was a member of the Torii school, who almost exclusively made prints of actors. This print is not just a portrait; it captures the essence of Kabuki, a highly stylized form of Japanese theater. Kabuki was hugely popular, but it existed within a rigid social hierarchy. Certain roles, like that of the onnagata, or female impersonator, reveal how gender was performed and perceived in the Edo period. Kabuki allowed for emotional expression in a society that otherwise prized restraint. Notice the actor's intense gaze and posture. The print serves as a mirror reflecting not just an image, but also the complex interplay of identity, performance, and societal expectations.