Acteursportret van Sawamura Sojuro III in de rol van Kakogawa Honzo 1795

This is an actor portrait made by Katsukawa Shun'ei, depicting Sawamura Sojuro III as Kakogawa Honzo. The print gives us insight into the cultural world of Edo-period Japan, with its distinctive aesthetics and social hierarchies. The actor Sawamura Sojuro III is shown in character, wearing a patterned kimono. The choice of the actor and the role he plays tells us something about the social status of the Kabuki theatre. Kabuki was a popular form of entertainment, but the actors were seen as social outcasts, although were widely celebrated by the public. The print flattens three-dimensional space and emphasizes decorative patterns. To understand the social dynamics of Edo-period Japan we can draw from a range of resources: theatre programs, government records, and literary accounts. Only then do we begin to see this image as a window into a complex social and cultural world.