Actors Ichikawa Yaozō, Sawamura SōjÅ«rō and Segawa Kikujirō Edo period,

Editor: Here we have Katsukawa Shun'ei's woodblock print, "Actors Ichikawa Yaozō, Sawamura Sōjūrō and Segawa Kikujirō." I'm struck by the actors' expressions; they feel both stylized and intensely human. What do you see in their faces, in their portrayal? Curator: I sense a heightened reality, darling. Shun'ei captures not just likeness, but the essence of Kabuki drama itself. It's as if he's bottled a moment of pure emotion, a whisper of the theatrical, for us to savor. The print's composition feels like a glimpse into the soul of the play. Don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. It's fascinating how he manages to convey so much with such precise lines and blocks of color. It makes me want to see the play! Curator: Exactly! Art that ignites the imagination is the art that truly lives, wouldn't you say?