Actor Segawa Kikujirō 2nd AS A WOMAN 

Curator: At first glance, I'm struck by the pervasive flatness, yet there is a subtle depth created by the layering of patterns. Editor: Here we have Katsukawa Shunko’s rendering of “Actor Segawa Kikujiro II as a Woman,” currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It captures an actor in character. Curator: The controlled lines defining the figure, combined with the soft palette, work to present a contained sorrow, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Indeed. Kabuki theater used such prints as promotional material. This portrays the actor’s skills but also reinforces gender roles and the performance of identity for the public. Curator: The floral motifs decorating the garments create a beautiful, repeated rhythm that unifies the composition. Editor: A print like this tells us so much about the commercialization of art and celebrity in Edo-period Japan. Curator: So, in the end, we are left with the lingering image of beauty, but also a glimpse into theater culture of the time. Editor: Precisely, making it a vital document of both artistic skill and social history.