The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro II and Sodesaki Iseno I c. 1727

This print of the actors Ichikawa Danjuro II and Sodesaki Iseno I, was made by Torii Kiyomasu II, using woodblock printing, a quintessential technique from the Edo period. What makes this print so compelling is the way the artist used line and color, achieved through the carving and layering of multiple woodblocks. This isn't just a picture; it's a testament to a whole system of making. Each color required a separate block, demanding careful registration to align perfectly, and each line was painstakingly carved by hand. This involved a lot of labor! These prints weren't conceived as high art but as a popular medium, a way to capture the fleeting allure of the Kabuki theater. They were essentially advertisements or souvenirs, tying into the wider social context of entertainment and consumption. Understanding this print means understanding its roots in a specific time, place, and mode of production. It's not just an image, it's a window into a world of theater, craftsmanship, and the everyday lives of people in Edo Japan.