Triptych: Meiboku Sendai Hagi 

Curator: This triptych, titled "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" is by Utagawa Kunisada. The woodblock print captures figures from a Kabuki play. I'm struck by the central figure's powerful stance. Editor: The poses seem a bit exaggerated, a dance of power and vulnerability perhaps, but it’s definitely commanding attention. What's the story being conveyed here? Curator: Kabuki often dramatizes historical events. Here we may see reflections of conflicts and political intrigue from the Edo era, filtered through cultural memory. Editor: Absolutely, and these characters are also conveying ideas about class and gender. The female figure is a symbol of resilience and defiance. Curator: The repetition of forms and colors also lends a dreamlike quality to the scene. Editor: It leaves me thinking about the ways in which performance shapes our understanding of history and identity. Curator: For me, it's a powerful reminder of how symbols persist and shift over time.