The actor Sawamura Sojuro III as Oboshi Yuranosuke in the play "Edo no Hana Ako no Shiogama," performed at the Kiri Theater in the fourth month, 1796 1796

This woodblock print, made by Utagawa Toyokuni I in 1796, depicts the actor Sawamura Sojuro III in the play "Edo no Hana Ako no Shiogama." The image gives us insight into the cultural world of Edo-period Japan, especially the Kabuki theatre scene. Kabuki was hugely popular, and prints like these, known as *ukiyo-e*, served as publicity and memorabilia. Toyokuni, from the Utagawa school, specialized in actor portraits, capturing not just likeness but also the essence of the character being portrayed. Notice the actor's intense gaze and determined expression; these visual cues, along with the costume, would have been instantly recognizable to the audience. Prints like this provide valuable information about the social and artistic life of the period. By consulting playbills, diaries, and other contemporary sources, we can understand the significance of the plays, the actors, and the cultural values reflected in them. Art history, in this case, becomes a window into understanding the dynamics of a society.