The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Lady Tomoe (Tomoe Gozen) in the Play Yasa Gumbai Miyako no Jindori, Performed at the Miyako Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1793 c. 1793

Katsukawa Shun'ei created this woodblock print in 1793. The flat planes of color and bold outlines are characteristic of the Ukiyo-e style, but it’s the printing process itself that holds the key to understanding the image. Each color required a separate block, meticulously carved to create the final composite image, with a perfectly precise registration. Think of the labor involved in producing just one of these prints. It’s a testament to the highly developed artisanal culture of the Edo period. Woodblock prints were commercial objects, made in multiples for a broad audience. And consider what labor this image represents as well; the actor Segawa Kikunojo playing the part of Lady Tomoe in *Yasa Gumbai Miyako no Jindori*. Shun’ei's print preserves a fleeting moment of theatrical performance, transforming the hard work of the actor into an enduring image made with skill and care. Understanding the process and material conditions of its making helps us appreciate the full meaning of the artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.