The Actors Bando Matakuro IV as Chubei, Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Umegawa, and Nakamura Katsugoro as Magoemon, in the play "Keisei Koibikyaku," performed at the Morita Theater in the fifth month, 1783 1783

This is a woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga, made in 1783. It depicts actors in a scene from the play "Keisei Koibikyaku". The composition is structured by a contrast between static figures at the top and dynamic figures below. The actors are arranged in a vertical stack, creating a strong sense of depth. Notice how the lines of the umbrellas and the actors' gazes converge, directing our attention to the central figures. Kiyonaga's sophisticated use of color and line emphasizes the textures and patterns of the actors' garments, providing a visual code that reflects the aesthetic values of the Edo period. The flattening of pictorial space is intentional, challenging Western perspective and highlighting the constructed nature of representation. The print destabilizes traditional notions of realism, instead embracing artifice and theatricality. By focusing on the artful construction of the image, Kiyonaga invites us to consider how representation shapes our understanding of reality and how the interplay of form and content reveals the cultural codes embedded within the artwork.