The Actor Ichikawa Monosuke II as Chivalrous Commoner 1780 - 1810

Curator: Look at this vibrant print, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, of the actor Ichikawa Monosuke II as a chivalrous commoner! It comes to us from Katsukawa Shun'ei, likely produced sometime between 1780 and 1810. What is your initial take? Editor: He looks… irascible. Even with those lovely cherry blossoms overhead, there is tension in his stance, his grimace. His clothing also appears rather extravagant. Is it intended to make a statement, perhaps one of defiance against authority? Curator: Absolutely! Ukiyo-e prints such as these served as mirrors reflecting Edo-period society. Actor prints, in particular, capture not only the individual's likeness but also the emotional register of the character. The clothing is an identifier, connecting the actor and character while indicating the ideals of the commoner: protective, yet extravagant. Editor: I find the combination quite compelling. The artist, Katsukawa Shun'ei, captures the figure from the oblique and the slightly raised perspective emphasizes his power within the frame. But is "chivalrous commoner" an idealized figure, or was it reflecting someone the public readily identified with in daily life? Curator: In many ways, it’s both. Kabuki theater served as an arena where socio-political dynamics of the period were explored and frequently challenged under the nose of those in power. Though restricted by class structures and socio-political hierarchy, the Edo-period public relished viewing idealized versions of themselves confronting injustice, through a popular entertainment form and iconic representations. Editor: So, the print operates on several layers. The actor embodies a role, embodying social ideals, represented through color and symbolic cues, and the print serves as cultural memory! Fascinating! It certainly underscores how popular imagery reflects evolving values within society. Curator: Precisely! When you see a sword and meticulously rendered garb you understand so much more of a moment of resistance that still reverberates across centuries. Editor: A testament to how art preserves, and makes accessible, these critical moments for posterity. Thanks for expanding my understanding.