The Actor Ichikawa Komazo I in the role of Utou Yarukata 1749 - 1769

This woodblock print depicts the actor Ichikawa Komazo I, made by Kitao Shigemasa in Japan. Prints like this one were part of a flourishing popular culture in urban centers like Edo, now Tokyo. The print presents the actor in character from a Kabuki play. Kabuki was a relatively new and popular form of theater in Japan during this period. It often featured stories of heroism, romance, and morality. Note the actor's elaborate costume and makeup, key elements in Kabuki performance. The text above his figure is likely related to the play or the actor's role. Prints such as this one contributed to the cult of celebrity around Kabuki actors. They also reveal the social and cultural values of the time, highlighting the importance of theater, popular entertainment, and the visual arts in Japanese society. By consulting historical records, playbills, and other documents, we can reconstruct the social world in which this print was made and consumed, deepening our understanding of its cultural significance.