Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Yaozō III as Hachiman Tarō Minamoto No Yoshiie (tachibanaya Chusha) 1795

This striking image of Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Yaozō III was made using woodblock printing, a technique called *ukiyo-e*. The production of *ukiyo-e* prints during this time involved the collaboration of the artist, block carver, printer, and publisher, reflecting an interesting interplay of labor and commerce. The character’s features are delineated with precision, the flat expanses of color and pattern, achieved through careful layering of ink, highlight the material quality of the print. The materiality of the paper, and the lines etched into the woodblock, give the artwork a unique texture. Kabuki theatre was popular with the merchant classes of the Edo period, and prints like this one were produced and consumed on a large scale. They became a part of the visual culture of the time. The image is not just a representation but a product of complex social and economic forces.