Segawa Kikunojo as Hatsuhana (瀬川菊之丞 初花)

Actor Segawa Kikunojo(瀬川菊之丞) is portrayed playing Hatsuhana(初花), a Japanese play female character. She is wearing a floral Kimono and her attire contrasts with the heavy cereal load she carries on her back, suggesting labour. Natural imagery across many cultures has connotations of femininity. The abundance of bamboo and other foliage in the background add a naturalistic style to the print that seemingly increases the visual femininity of the actor. Still, as was customary in Japanese theater prints, a print maker Utagawa Kunisada(歌川国貞) makes little effort to feminise the features when depicting the male actor’s visage.