Poem by Fujiwara no Toshiyuki Ason: (Actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV as) the Ghost of Kasane, from the series Comparisons for Thirty-six Selected Poems (Mitate sanjÅ«rokkasen no uchi) Possibly 1852 - 1859

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Kunisada's woodblock print, "Poem by Fujiwara no Toshiyuki Ason: (Actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV as) the Ghost of Kasane, from the series Comparisons for Thirty-six Selected Poems." The spectral figure is arresting. What formal qualities strike you most? Curator: The dramatic use of line is quite compelling. Notice the stark contrast between the flowing hair and the jagged edges of the ghost's face, which serves to heighten the unsettling nature of the image. The careful arrangement of color, primarily the muted blues and grays, creates a somber mood, punctuated by the red flames. How do you perceive the relationship between these formal elements? Editor: I see how the lines and colors work to create that tension. I hadn't noticed how much the contrasting textures add to the overall feeling. Thank you.