Kitamura Rokuro as Otsuta in Fukeizu

This oban woodblock print captures the actor Kitamura Rokuro performing the role of Otsuta in the kabuki play Fukeizu. Fukeizu is a domestic drama that explores themes of family loyalty and sacrifice, and the character Otsuta is a woman whose circumstances test her devotion and moral resolve. Ota Masamitsu records the actor in costume and character, showing how the male performer transforms into a convincing female figure through the art of onnagata, the kabuki tradition of men playing all roles including women. The print preserves a specific moment in a specific performance, making it both an art object and a theatrical document. The oban format provides space for the full costume display that kabuki demands, including the layered kimono, elaborate wig, and the subtle hand gestures and facial expressions that distinguish one character from another.