One of the oldest classical forms of dance-drama, kabuki dates back over 400 years. The strong, animated actors of kabuki were idolized by the public and proved to be invigorating subjects for ukiyo-e artists. Two of the greatest artists in actor portraiture were Ippitsusai Buncho (fl.1765-1792) and Katsukawa Shunsho (1726-1792) and together they designed the dynamic series of kabuki portraits of the mid-18th century, Ehon Butai Ogi or Picture Book of Stage Fans. Designed and printed in 1770, each page features a half-length portrait of an actor framed by a fan shape. Both artists were brilliant in representing the individual character of each actor through subtle variations in their facial features.