The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke I and Dekijima Daisuke II c. 1728

Torii Kiyonobu II created this woodblock print, titled *The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke I and Dekijima Daisuke II*, sometime between 1725 and 1761. The work presents two figures in an intimate, though somewhat ambiguous encounter, rendered with a stark emphasis on line and color. The composition hinges on a contrast between the flat expanses of color and the delicate network of linear details that define the actors’ garments and features. The strategic use of line, particularly in the rendering of the kimono patterns and facial expressions, invites a reading that exceeds mere surface representation. These lines serve as signs, hinting at deeper cultural and social meanings embedded in the portrayal of actors. The actors' stylized poses and the bold color choices underscore the constructed nature of performance, destabilizing conventional notions of identity. The print becomes a stage where gender, status, and representation are fluid, suggesting an exploration of the performative aspects of social roles and the constructedness of the self.