Act Ten: The Amakawaya House from the play Chushingura (Treausry of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers) c. early 1790s

This woodblock print by Katsukawa Shun'ei depicts a scene from Act Ten of the play Chushingura. It was made in Japan, a culture with very strong traditions of theatre that were rigidly policed by the state. Plays such as Chushingura were a form of social commentary. They spoke to ideas of honor and loyalty, often in the guise of historical fiction, allowing commentary on contemporary issues. Shun’ei worked in a style that was closely associated with the Kabuki theatre. This print presents a behind-the-scenes view of the actors and setting the stage for a scene. The question we might ask is whether the artist is commenting on the social structure of theatre in Japan. Is he being conservative or progressive? By studying such prints, along with other records of the Kabuki theatre, we can learn more about the place of art in Japanese society.