A Famous Actor of Women's Roles 1754 - 1774

This woodblock print portrays a celebrated actor by Kitao Shigemasa, likely in the late 18th century, when the theater was a vibrant center of culture. Here, we see a male actor dressed as a woman, carrying a samurai helmet and fan, next to a pine tree. The pine, or "matsu," symbolizes steadfastness and longevity, linking the temporal world with the eternal. We see it echoed in classical art across different cultures and eras, such as in Roman portraiture, where pine branches evoke a sense of timeless virtue. The actor's helmet is a symbol of valor, traditionally reserved for warriors and heroes. It is, however, made playful here, becoming a theatrical prop and a symbol of transformation. Across time, the helmet is also associated with divine wisdom in the Greek myth of Athena, linking male virility with female intellect. In Shigemasa's artwork, it adds to the drama of transformation. We see a non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols and iconography, resurfacing and evolving to take on new meanings in different historical contexts.