The Actors Iwai Hanshiro IV (right), Ichikawa Monnosuke II (center), and Sakata Hangoro III (left), Possibly as Manazuru the Wife of Tametomo, Hojo Saburo Munetoki, and Kawanaya Tashiro, in the Joruri "Iwai-zuki Neya no Obitoki" (Inauspicious Months: Loosening the Sash in the Bedchamber), from Part Two of the Play Mutsu no Hana Izu no Hataage (Snowflakes: Raising the Standard at Izu), Performed at the Kiri Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1786 c. 1786

Katsukawa Shunko created this woodblock print of actors in 1786. The composition presents three figures arranged in a triangular structure, set against a subdued, almost ethereal background. The actors are distinguished by the intricate patterns of their costumes, featuring bold lines and organic motifs. The artist’s use of line is particularly striking, defining the forms and creating a sense of depth. The color palette, though restrained, enhances the visual impact, drawing the viewer’s eye to specific elements of the design. The actors' expressions convey the emotional intensity of the drama, inviting interpretation through the visual language of kabuki theater. The print destabilizes traditional portraiture by merging individual likeness with codified character types, thus challenging fixed notions of identity. This dynamic play between representation and abstraction invites us to engage with the cultural codes and performative aspects of the artwork.