The Actor Ichikawa Yaozo II as Sakura-maru in the Play Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Seventh Month, 1776 c. 1776

Editor: This striking woodcut print by Katsukawa Shunko, made around 1776, depicts the actor Ichikawa Yaozo II. What really grabs me is the use of line, especially how it defines the actor's pose and the folds of his clothing. What do you see in this piece, looking at its formal qualities? Curator: I am struck by the compositional balance. The artist employs a dynamic asymmetry. Note the weighting of the figure to the left, countered by the swords projecting to the right, a fine semiotic rendering, would you not agree? Editor: Definitely! The swords do add a layer of visual tension. Also, the stark contrast between the plain background and the actor’s patterned kimono is interesting. It focuses your attention. What can be read out of that focus? Curator: Indeed. The minimal background serves as a foil, directing focus to the subject. The surface is enlivened, not just by the costume itself but by the deployment of flat colour planes with subtle tonal gradations within. I might note that these tonal variations produce a certain dimensionality that contrasts against the flattening of other parts of the form. Consider the treatment of the actor's face in contrast to his bare feet. The effect overall seems almost like a semiotic device... Editor: Ah, I see! So, the different levels of detail add to the expressiveness. Curator: Precisely! Editor: Fascinating. I'm beginning to appreciate the artful arrangement of the elements, even beyond the historical context. Curator: Precisely. Formal qualities can elevate an artwork from documentation into art. A key insight.