Ichikawa Shocho II as Oman

This oban woodblock print depicts Ichikawa Shocho II performing the female role of Oman. Shocho was an onnagata, a male actor specializing in female roles, and his delicate features made him convincing in parts requiring beauty and grace. Oman appears in several kabuki plays as a devoted young woman, often caught in tragic romantic circumstances. Toyonari renders the actor-as-character with the soft lines and gentle color palette appropriate to a feminine portrayal, contrasting sharply with the bold, angular treatment he applied to warrior and villain roles. The print records both a specific performance and the broader onnagata tradition that remained central to kabuki even as Taisho-era audiences debated its relevance. Toyonari's careful attention to the layers of kimono and the styling of the wig documents the visual craft that onnagata performance required.