The Actor, Arashi Otohachi, 1695–1769 in an Unidentified Role 1724 - 1735

This woodblock print by Tsunegawa Shigenobu depicts the actor Arashi Otohachi, likely crafted in the vibrant atmosphere of Osaka. Here, the symbolic weight of the swords is intriguing. In feudal Japan, the samurai class bore swords as emblems of status and honor. Yet here, carried by an actor, they signify a symbolic role, a performance of power rather than its intrinsic possession. We see echoes of this theatrical adoption in classical Greek drama, where masks and costumes transformed actors into gods and heroes. Consider the lantern; its light, often associated with guidance, here illuminates the actor, guiding us through the narrative. Like the torches in ancient mystery rites, which were meant to evoke not just illumination, but also revelation and transformation. These objects possess a power beyond their literal forms. They tap into collective memories, evoking subconscious responses that unite us across time and cultures. In their symbolic journey, they resurface, reborn, and ever resonant.