Onoe Kikugorō V in the Role of the Witch of Adachigahara 1890

"Onoe Kikugorō V in the Role of the Witch of Adachigahara" is a woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi from 1890. This print depicts the famous kabuki actor, Onoe Kikugorō V, in the role of the vengeful spirit, Adachigahara. The striking use of color and line emphasizes the spirit's anger and anguish, with its emaciated body and fierce gaze. The surrounding vines and gourds symbolize the spirit's imprisonment and the passage of time. Yoshitoshi’s dynamic use of line and color capture the drama and theatricality of Kabuki theater.