The Actors Segawa Kikunojo II as Miwa and Ichimura Kamezo I as Hikoso in the play "Ume Momiji Date no Okido," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the eleventh month, 1760 1760

Torii Kiyomitsu's woodblock print from 1760 depicts actors in the play "Ume Momiji Date no Okido" at the Ichimura Theater in Japan. The Kabuki theatre was a popular, yet contested cultural institution of Tokugawa-era Japan. Actors like the ones represented here in costume, became celebrities. To be featured in a print like this one was likely very important for the actors’ status. The Ichimura Theater itself was a powerful institution within the world of Kabuki, shaping the careers of actors and the development of the art form. The print's style, with its elegant lines and emphasis on the actors' poses, reflects the aesthetic preferences of the urban merchant class who were the primary audience for Kabuki. Kiyomitsu's work provides valuable insight into the social and cultural dynamics of 18th-century Japan. Further research into the history of Kabuki, the Ichimura Theater, and the social status of actors would enrich our understanding of this print. Art history gives us the tools to understand the important role art plays in society.