Actor Bando Mitsugorō 3rd Fighting Over Banner, part of a spring kyōka surimono pentaptych for the Sugawara Group led by Shakuyakutei Nagane c. 1822 - 1826

Curator: This is a print by Utagawa Kunisada, who lived from 1786 to 1865. It's titled "Actor Bando Mitsugoro III Fighting Over Banner" and is part of a larger pentaptych. I'm struck by the textures. Editor: Yes, the patterning on the actor's costume is mesmerizing. The diamond grid contrasts wonderfully with the floral motifs on the banner. What can you tell me about what they might signify? Curator: Well, considering that this is a woodblock print, the layering of these patterns is technically remarkable. The materiality of the paper itself and the labor to create this piece speak to its purpose as an advertisement. Editor: Indeed. The image of the actor, with his face painted white and fierce, evokes a sense of dramatic tension. The banner seems less a prize and more a burden, a symbol of the struggle he embodies. Curator: And the background, with the sparse bamboo, suggests a confined performance space—emphasizing the actor’s physical presence and skill. Editor: Both things, the print and the performance, act as a cultural touchstone of a particular moment in time. Curator: Exactly. A commercial transaction with deeply embedded cultural meaning.