The Actor Segawa Kikunojo as a Courtesan in Summer Attire c. early 1780s

Katsukawa Shunshō made this woodblock print of actor Segawa Kikunojo around 1780, a period when the representation of actors was extremely popular in Japan. The artwork blurs the lines of gender identity and representation. Shunshō captures Segawa Kikunojo, a male actor celebrated for portraying female roles, dressed as a high-ranking courtesan. This was a period when Kabuki theater thrived, but female performers were banned, so male actors known as "onnagata" specialized in female roles. The artist presents the actor with delicate features, capturing an ideal of feminine beauty. While seemingly celebrating feminine beauty, this image invites us to consider the complex layers of identity and performance in the Edo period. It reflects both the restrictions on women and the space for men to embody them on stage. It speaks to how gender could be both performed and perceived in society, and how art could become a stage for challenging norms.