Five Popular Actors as the Gonin Otoko or Five Otokodate, in "Ume Wakana Futaba Soga" 1745 - 1765

This 18th-century woodblock print by Torii Kiyohiro depicts five popular actors as heroic figures from the Kabuki play, "Ume Wakana Futaba Soga." The materiality of this work—wood and ink— speaks directly to its purpose. Woodblock printing was a key technology in the Edo period, enabling the mass production of images for a broad audience. Look closely, and you’ll notice the lines are crisp and the colors are flat. This aesthetic isn’t just a stylistic choice; it's inherent to the technique. A design is carved into a block of wood, inked, and then pressed onto paper. It's a labor-intensive process, yet it allowed for the widespread distribution of art, fashion, and theater—making celebrity culture accessible. The choice of depicting popular actors isn't accidental. This print functions as a kind of publicity poster. By celebrating the performers, Kiyohiro taps into the burgeoning world of commercial entertainment, blurring the lines between art, advertisement, and social commentary. So, when we appreciate this print, we're not just looking at an image; we're engaging with a fascinating intersection of craft, commerce, and cultural identity.