Actor as Woman with Hobby–horse in Unidentified Role 1664 - 1729

This print of an actor as a woman with a hobby-horse, now in the Met, was made by Torii Kiyonobu I sometime before his death in 1729. It's a woodblock print, meaning that the image you see here was carved into a block of wood, inked, and then printed onto paper. The technique gives the image a graphic, stylized quality; the flat planes of color and bold outlines emphasize the artifice of the actor's performance. Look closely, and you'll notice that the patterns on the figure's kimono have a tactile quality, achieved through careful carving. This artisanal process contrasts with the world of Kabuki theatre, which by this time was becoming increasingly commercialized, an industry devoted to leisure. Prints like this one were produced in multiples, catering to the growing urban population's appetite for images of their favorite stars. Appreciating the labor and skill involved in the production of this woodblock reminds us not to silo it into one category, high art, but to recognize its place in a broader history of creative practices, popular culture, and market exchange.