Dream Spectres 2: Kabuki Nightmares: Ukiyo-e Ghosts, Magic & Mayhem

UKIYO-E, the art of woodblock design and printing, enjoyed a symbiosis with the kabuki theatre almost from its inception in the late 17th century, with a significant number of images devoted to the popular theatre. These comprise kabuki-e — dynamic frames, diptychs and triptychs recreating specific scenes from plays — and yakusha-e — portraits of famous actors in various roles both real and imaginary. Amongst those producing theatrical prints were some of the greatest ukiyo-e artists of the...