Handayu, An Actor in a Female Role 1723 - 1792

Ippitsusai Bunchō created this woodblock print, "Handayu, An Actor in a Female Role," using ink and color on paper. The composition immediately draws you in with its vertical orientation and the soft, muted colors that define the actor's serene pose. Bunchō masterfully employs line and form. The actor's figure, draped in flowing robes, is constructed with delicate lines that contrast with the geometric rigidity of the surrounding architecture, specifically the window grid behind. There is a deliberate contrast that sets up a visual rhythm throughout the print. The lantern and the actor's attire anchor the composition, creating a balance of light and dark that guide the viewer's eye. This attention to balance challenges the viewer to reconsider their assumptions about gender, representation, and the interplay of artifice and reality within theatrical and artistic contexts.