Actor Iwai Hanshirō 4th as Otafuku with Young Boy and Ema Plaque Shrine Offering Possibly 1821

Curator: This print by Utagawa Hiroshige, housed at the Harvard Art Museums, presents the actor Iwai Hanshirō 4th as Otafuku with a young boy and ema plaque. What strikes you first? Editor: The materiality is quite fascinating. The textures created by the woodblock printmaking process and the layering of inks give a sense of depth and movement to the figures. Curator: Indeed. Consider the composition; the actor is framed by the boy carrying the ema, almost like a religious icon in a procession. The lines are clean, and the color palette restrained, emphasizing the formal grace of the figure. Editor: For me, it is about the means of production. Woodblock prints were often collaborative, highlighting the skill of the carvers and printers as much as the artist's design. And the subject matter—an actor playing a character—blurs lines between performance and reality. Curator: I appreciate how the composition draws attention to the intricate detail of the actor's robes. The patterning and color choices create a pleasing visual rhythm. Editor: I find myself thinking about the hands that produced this image, the labor involved in each impression, and the lives it touched. It’s a humble medium, yet it speaks volumes. Curator: True, the image offers a meditation on form and the relationship between representation and reality. Editor: It’s fascinating to consider the convergence of art, craft, and social context inherent in this print.