Drama of Areshi Soga 1711 - 1785

Ishikawa Toyonobu created this woodblock print, "Drama of Areshi Soga," in Japan during the mid-18th century. The artwork captures a scene where two actors dressed as women exchange a letter, set against a stylized outdoor backdrop. In the Edo period, when Toyonobu was working, kabuki theater was a vibrant part of urban culture and a space where gender roles were both performed and challenged. Here, the male actors performing female roles offer a glimpse into the fluid nature of gender representation on stage, and perhaps, in society. Consider how the details of their costumes—the elaborate wigs, the sumptuous fabrics—contribute to the construction of their characters. The drama lies not only in the exchange of the letter, but also in the performance of identity. How do you think this challenges or reinforces conventional notions of femininity?