The Actor Ichikawa Uzayemon IX 1724–1785 in a Female Role 1723 - 1792

Editor: This is "The Actor Ichikawa Uzayemon IX 1724–1785 in a Female Role," a Japanese woodblock print from between 1723 and 1792, by Ippitsusai Bunchō. It’s quite striking – there’s such attention to the detail of the actor’s garments. What stands out to you? Curator: I am interested in the materials, especially regarding the printmaking process in the Ukiyo-e tradition. Think about the labor involved in each impression. Woodblock prints allowed for a mass production of images, thereby changing art’s consumption, transforming an image from unique and precious to a widely-available commodity. Editor: So the print medium is essential to understanding this piece? Curator: Exactly! Consider also the social context of Kabuki theatre. Actors weren't always held in high regard, yet their images became popular items. How does the commodification of their likeness change our understanding of celebrity culture then, and now? Does mass production elevate or degrade their status? Editor: That’s fascinating! I hadn’t considered the implications of it being a print. The very nature of the material transforms how we perceive the subject. The wide availability of the actor’s image almost democratizes his fame. Curator: Precisely. And how does this contrast with our notions of "high art," usually associated with unique, hand-crafted objects? Bunchō's print challenges those boundaries by employing craft – printing techniques– for artistic representation. Editor: So, it makes you reconsider value itself – artistic value, economic value, and even social value… It all intertwines with the means of production. I hadn’t really thought about prints as a means to elevate an image. Curator: I’m glad we’ve arrived here – seeing how materials and the means of production aren’t neutral but deeply imbricated with social significance.