The actor Bando Mitsugoro II as Katsura Kokingo Haruhisa 1794

Editor: Here we have Toshusai Sharaku's woodblock print from 1794, titled "The actor Bando Mitsugoro II as Katsura Kokingo Haruhisa." The tension is palpable, right? He looks caught, startled almost, like we've interrupted him mid-scene. What strikes you first about this piece? Curator: Oh, the energy crackles, doesn't it? Sharaku wasn’t just painting portraits; he was capturing fleeting moments, raw emotions. And, truth be told, I am captivated by Sharaku's audacity. This isn't your typical, flattering portrait. There’s a boldness in his choice to show the actor, not necessarily as the idealized hero, but perhaps with a touch of…awkwardness? Almost human, wouldn't you say? Do you think we, maybe, aren't supposed to be so close? Editor: I think that tension is exactly what I'm picking up on. So, beyond just a portrait, what do you think Sharaku is trying to communicate about acting or maybe even identity here? Curator: Think about Kabuki, about theatre itself. What is identity but a performance? It's a reflection. This actor *becomes* this character. Sharaku captures not just the likeness, but perhaps the burden of embodying someone else. The actor's slight discomfort might hint at the challenge and the price of slipping into another skin. What price beauty? A topic as fresh today as it was centuries ago. Does the theatre stop on the stage or does it, perchance, reflect us? Editor: It’s a really striking commentary on the performative aspects of self. The print’s stark lines and limited color palette also add to that intensity, don’t they? Curator: Precisely. Every element reinforces the other. It's like a perfectly orchestrated haiku; succinct, resonant, and full of subtle reverberations. Editor: I hadn't considered how much that awkwardness adds to the commentary. Thank you for expanding my interpretation, I feel like I see this artwork in a completely new way! Curator: Ah, splendid! The best art encourages that, I believe. Changes the way you view the light...in your own story.