The Actor Ichikawa Ebizo (Danjuro V) as Banzui Chobei in the Play Gozen-gakari Sumo Soga, Performed at the Kawarazaki Theater in the Second Month, 1793 c. 1793

Curator: Katsukawa Shun’ei's woodblock print, dating from about 1793, depicts the actor Ichikawa Ebizo, also known as Danjuro V, in the role of Banzui Chobei. The performance was Gozen-gakari Sumo Soga at the Kawarazaki Theater. Editor: He certainly commands attention, doesn't he? There's a sternness in the gaze and the set of his jaw that speaks to power. Curator: Indeed. The strong, unwavering gaze is important; it's almost confrontational. It establishes the actor, and the character, as one of strength and resolution, ready to meet any challenge. He projects the aura of a guardian or protector. The positioning near the gate suggests a liminal space, reinforcing the psychological tension, I feel. Editor: Interesting. To me, his stance, slightly hunched, feels less about guardianship and more about a readiness to challenge authority. The flamboyant robes suggest a visual opposition to traditional social structures – maybe even questioning of social order in general. Is it safe to say the work serves to immortalize the actor in his confrontational character? Curator: It's absolutely an enduring portrayal. Ukiyo-e prints like these served as a kind of publicity, celebrating not only the actors but the kabuki theater itself. However, to me the simplified palette and the bold outlines carry more than revolutionary messaging; they amplify the emotional impact. It allows the essence of the character to come through. Editor: Well, isn't all theater itself about representing an alternate, revolutionary world? By freezing this portrayal through printmaking, Shun’ei's caricature immortalizes and legitimizes the actor and role as essential expressions within popular culture. Curator: It gives me so much to ponder about the visual storytelling and how we, even centuries later, connect to this imagery and what it says about performance, persona, and power. Editor: For me, the dialogue it sparks regarding cultural and social change remains vital— it goes to show how art can serve as an enduring force for reflection and social progress.