Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳

In this illustration of a popular Kabuki play, the actor Onoe Kikugorō III, seen in the center, conjures up rats in his supernatural role as a young magician. Led by a giant rat in priestly attire, an army of rats swarms the stage. Meanwhile, on the left and right, three figures prepare to defend themselves. 

Kuniyoshi adeptly depicted the actors’ expressions and gestures, animating the scene with vivid colors. His portrayal of hordes of rats spilling out of the curtains may be even more dramatic than the actual scene that took place in the theater.