The Dandy (Wakashu) Kosho Kichiza

This print is a portrait of a young man, Kosho Kichiza. He has a shaved patch and forelock which demonstrates that he is a wakashu. He is dressed in a long sleeved kimono (furisode), a garemet normally worn by young women, which shows how wakashu took on female gender roles. However, he is also carrying two swords, confirming his identity as a man, as well as being an indication of status, meaning that he is perhaps a member of the samurai class. However, because this image is a print, meaning it was mass produced, and the subject is specified in the title, it is more likely that it depicts a kabuki actor, as such prints served as advertisements for their skills both onstage and as prostitutes for male clients. This can be seen in the high wooden sandals he is wearing, which accentuate his bare feet, something considered highly erotic at the time. The red straps on them match the red underlayer of his kimono seen peeking out around his sleeves, adding to this eroticism. In his right hand he holds a paper fan, which as well as drawing attention to his bare wrist, is the kind used by dancers, which further demonstrates his involvement in entertainment. His head turned, looking away from the viewer, which creates a voyeuristic situation by which they are invited to revel in the beauty and sexuality of the subject.