Actor Ichikawa Yaozō 2nd in Pre-Performance Celebration for the play Soga Monogatari at the Morita Theater from the second month of 1773 Possibly 1773

Editor: This woodblock print by Ippitsusai Bunchō, depicts Actor Ichikawa Yaozō in 1773. The paper and ink make me think about the labor involved in creating these prints. What does this image tell you about the means of artistic production at the time? Curator: Well, consider the woodblock print medium itself. It speaks volumes about a system of artistic production reliant on skilled artisans, not just the artist. The publisher, the carver, the printer – each played a role in the final product. The actor's elaborate costume and props point to the consumption habits of the audience. This wasn't just about high art; it was about popular culture and the market for images. Editor: So, you're saying it reflects the broader economic and social structures of the time? Curator: Precisely. The materials, the process, the consumption – all intertwined. It moves beyond a mere portrait to become a document of its own making. Editor: That’s a different way to look at it. Thanks!