Onoe Kikugoro (Right) as Soga no Goro; Ichimura Kamezo as Soga no Juro 1744

Ishikawa Toyonobu created this image of the actors Onoe Kikugoro and Ichimura Kamezo as Soga no Goro and Soga no Juro using woodblock printmaking techniques. Note the subtle yet potent symbolism of the fan held by Onoe Kikugoro. In Japanese art, the fan is not merely an accessory; it's a vehicle of social grace, a tool for storytelling, and a symbol laden with meaning. This seemingly simple object echoes through time, similar to the way ancient Roman emperors held scepters as symbols of their power and prestige. Here, the fan can imply the actor's control over his stage persona and his ability to manipulate the narrative, a recurring motif in art history that underscores the power of representation and illusion. Consider the ways in which certain artistic motifs like the fan return, evolve, and echo throughout history, revealing the deep-seated psychological currents that connect us across time.