Kabuki Actors Segawa Kikunojō III and Ichikawa Monnosuke II and Two Courtesans Celebrating the New Year 1790s

Katsukawa Shunkō’s woodblock print presents us with a cluster of figures around a bamboo stalk, rendered with flat planes of colour and strong outlines. The scene celebrates the New Year with Kabuki actors and courtesans. The composition invites semiotic interpretation; each element acting as a sign within a cultural code. The bamboo, for example, tied with a rope, is not merely a plant but a symbol of resilience and prosperity for the coming year. Shunkō uses line and colour to differentiate textures and social roles, yet he flattens the perspective, pushing figures to the foreground and disrupting traditional spatial hierarchy. This stylistic choice might reflect the Edo period’s shifting values, where popular culture and the floating world challenged established norms. The actors, known for their flamboyant performances, are presented with an almost subdued elegance. They are signs of a society where art and reality were carefully constructed performances. Shunkō's arrangement of these figures underscores a dynamic interplay between visibility and depth, inviting the viewer to decode the cultural performance.