Actor Matsumoto Koshirō 2nd AS ASAGAO 

Curator: This is "Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō II as Asagao" by Ippitsusai Bunchō. This Japanese woodblock print uses delicate lines and subtle colors. It feels strangely unsettling to me. Editor: There is a tension, isn't there? The actor, in the role of Asagao, seems confined, gazing upwards beyond the grid of the shoji screen. The sword adds a layer of dramatic irony to the narrative. Curator: The composition is masterful, with the vertical lines of the screen drawing the eye upward. It’s a beautiful, and highly stylized, planar arrangement. The surface ornamentation of the kimono acts as a visual counterpoint. Editor: It's interesting how Bunchō uses the actor's gaze to suggest longing, perhaps, for a world outside the confines of his role and social constraints. The image is carefully constructed to present an idea of identity itself as performative. Curator: Precisely. The formal elements work together to create meaning, highlighting the complexities of representation. Editor: It's a fascinating glimpse into the world of Edo-period theatre and the society that shaped it. I see the artist drawing attention to the role of the theatre, and the actor, as it relates to social constructs. Curator: Indeed, I'm struck by how much the visual language contributes to our understanding of its historical moment. Editor: Thank you, I noticed more in this work, now, than I did initially.