Actor Sakata Hangorō 2nd 

Curator: This is Katsukawa Shunko's portrait of the actor Sakata Hangoro II, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is how much the patterned kimono dominates the composition, almost swallowing the figure. Curator: It's a woodblock print, likely mass-produced for popular consumption. The actor's image becomes a commodity. Editor: Look at the linear quality of the beard contrasted with the flat planes of color. The semiotic weight there is really interesting. Curator: The materiality of the print itself, the paper, the ink, speaks to the era's burgeoning print culture and its effects on fame and representation. Editor: The choice of such vibrant colors really emphasizes the performative nature of the actor, a visual spectacle. Curator: And the labor involved in the carving, printing, and distribution—a whole network supporting this single image. I find that compelling. Editor: Seeing how the artist uses flat planes to convey the actor's facial expression really emphasizes the abstraction that's happening here. Curator: Indeed, it reveals the intersection of artistic skill and mass production shaping celebrity. Editor: It offers a lot to think about; I'm still considering what to make of it.