The Actor Yamashita Mangiku I as Lady Yuya (Yuya Gozen) (?) in the Play Heike Hyobanki (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Seventh Month, 1789 (?) c. 1789

Editor: This striking print, created around 1789 by Katsukawa Shunsen, depicts the actor Yamashita Mangiku I. It’s supposedly in the role of Lady Yuya, maybe from a play called Heike Hyobanki. I find it incredibly elegant, the way the bamboo echoes both in the hanging branch and on her kimono. What’s your take on this artwork? Curator: It’s more than elegant, it’s a wink and a nudge! Remember ukiyo-e prints weren't just for decoration, they were pop culture. These actor portraits were like celebrity endorsements. And Shunsen? He's having fun! See how he exaggerates the actor's features? It's almost caricature, yet respectful. A delicate balancing act, wouldn't you agree? Think of it like an early form of a star-is-born narrative; an image sold for fandom. Editor: I see what you mean about the celebrity angle. So, the bamboo – is that just a decorative motif, or does it carry extra meaning? Curator: Oh, nothing in these prints is *just* decorative. Bamboo represents resilience, flexibility. Maybe a comment on the actor's ability to transform, bend into different roles? Or maybe the artist saw it as strength; or simply it was for stage and effect. What if it's all a trick on the eyes and there are two different kimonos: a stage kimono and the one she is perhaps seen wearing? That's what great art allows us to ponder, I think. Editor: That’s fascinating! So much more to it than just a pretty picture. Thanks for that perspective! Curator: My pleasure! It is funny isn't it: once you get past that ‘pretty picture’, there are worlds opening up before you. I almost want to say, "Do you copy?" - and maybe one day we will enter it all.