Onoe Matsusuke I as an Oiran Stands at the Left, Talking to Nakamura Nakazo I as a Samurai 1778 - 1798

Torii Kiyonaga created this woodblock print depicting Onoe Matsusuke I and Nakamura Nakazo I, two male Kabuki actors, in female and male roles respectively. During the Edo period, Kabuki theatre was a cultural touchstone, reflecting and shaping societal norms and values. This print invites us to consider the fluidity of gender roles on stage and the complex relationship between performance and identity. Kabuki was more than mere entertainment; it was a space where social hierarchies were both reinforced and subverted. The exaggerated costumes and makeup allowed actors to embody and explore different facets of identity. How did the audience respond to seeing men play women? What did it mean to represent gender in such a stylized, theatrical way? The print invites us to reflect on the interplay between identity, performance, and representation, and how these dynamics have shaped our understanding of gender and social roles.