Memorial Portrait of the Actor Iwai Hanshirō VI with Segawa Kikunojō V Possibly 1836

Utagawa Kunisada created this woodblock print, *Memorial Portrait of the Actor Iwai Hanshirō VI with Segawa Kikunojō V*, sometime before his death in 1865. The print reflects the cultural significance of kabuki theatre in 19th-century Japan, particularly its complex relationship with gender and identity. Kabuki was known for its onnagata, male actors who specialized in playing female roles. Here, Kunisada depicts two actors, one of whom is in an onnagata role. These performances often explored and challenged conventional gender norms, creating a space for fluidity and subversion within the rigid social structures of the time. The memorial aspect suggests a reflection on the fleeting nature of performance and identity, further complicated by the layers of representation in the print itself. Kunisada’s work provides a glimpse into the emotional and performative dimensions of identity in a society undergoing significant transformation. The print invites us to consider how art can both reflect and shape our understanding of ourselves and others.