The Actors Yamamoto Iwanojo as the courtesan Katsuragi and Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Fuwa Bansaku in the play "Monzukushi Nagoya Soga," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the first month, 1748 1748

Editor: So, this is "The Actors Yamamoto Iwanojo as the courtesan Katsuragi and Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Fuwa Bansaku," a woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu II from 1748. I’m struck by how decorative it is—all the patterns and the almost flattened perspective. How should we approach interpreting this piece? Curator: Let's start by examining the formal relationships at play here. Note the contrasting patterns – the geometric checks against the organic floral motifs on the kimonos. Consider also the role of line: the bold, curving lines that define the figures. Does it draw your eye towards a focal point? Editor: Well, my eye is drawn to the courtesan’s patterned kimono. And I see repeated circular shapes within the design. Curator: Precisely. Observe how the artist uses repetition and variation to create a dynamic yet balanced composition. What is the effect of this choice? Are we meant to find order in visual rhymes and mirrored motifs? Consider how the patterned ground and the stack of fans add to this. Editor: That’s interesting. The background, I mean, it almost flattens the whole picture plane. Is that a technique used in ukiyo-e prints? Curator: Yes, certainly. Note the lack of traditional Western perspective; depth is suggested through layering and the varying scale of elements, rather than linear recession. How does this affect your reading of the figures and their relationship to one another and to their spatial context? Editor: It creates this very distinct sense of depth without really conforming to my expectations for depth. It feels intentional. Curator: Exactly! We can thus decode these pictorial techniques using a semiotic approach to better understand the print's symbolic language. By considering these structural elements, what new perspectives can we gain? Editor: I never really noticed all those details until now, and seeing it structurally helps appreciate the choices that were made. It all comes together very thoughtfully. Curator: Agreed. This work reminds us that focusing on form opens pathways toward broader interpretative possibilities.