The Actor Kawarasaki Gonjūrō for a Fire Troupe 1865

This woodblock print depicts the actor Kawarasaki Gonjūrō, created by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, who lived during a time of rapid modernization and social change in Japan. Yoshitoshi, known for his dramatic and often gruesome prints, captures here the performative identity of the actor within the vibrant context of Edo period Kabuki theater. Gonjūrō is portrayed in character, his face a mask of intense focus, adorned with makeup that exaggerates his features. He wears a costume rich with symbolic patterns and carries a prop related to fire, indicating his role in a fire troupe. The print not only showcases the individual actor, but also reflects the broader cultural significance of Kabuki as a space where identities are fluid, and where social roles are both enacted and subverted. Yoshitoshi elevates the actor to an iconic status, immortalizing him in a moment of dramatic tension. In doing so, he invites us to consider the layered identities present in Kabuki theater.