Actor Onoe Matsusuke IV as Gorōji in Kagatobi 1920

Editor: Right, so here we have "Actor Onoe Matsusuke IV as Gorōji in Kagatobi," a woodblock print from 1920 by Yamamura Toyonari, housed here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It's such a striking image! There’s almost something… unsettling about his expression. What strikes you most about this portrait? Curator: Unsettling, yes, but also incredibly insightful. Toyonari’s got a keen eye for the performative. This isn’t just a likeness; it’s a distillation of character, wouldn’t you say? Ukiyo-e prints often focused on idealized beauty, but here, Toyonari emphasizes the individuality, the quirkiness, even… dare I say, the slight absurdity of the actor in this role. Notice how he uses the exaggerated features to tell a story beyond just the physical resemblance. That heightened nose! Editor: It’s definitely more caricature than straightforward portraiture, agreed! And those vibrant colors – especially the red on his cheeks and fingers. Is there a particular significance to that choice? Curator: Precisely. Color is never just decorative. In Kabuki theater, color is code. Red signifies passion, heroism, anger… and of course in kabuki makeup a flush face indicates anger or strong emotion. The almost clinical way it is applied to the fingers makes it all a little too overt. Do you see how he emphasizes the artificiality of performance itself. As for the letter that Goro holds so close to his heart? Perhaps he is a victim, perhaps a conspirator, the choice, or trap if you will, is ultimately his own! Editor: I see! So it’s like a meta-commentary on the act of performance itself, capturing not just the character, but the actor inhabiting that role. The story *around* the story. Curator: Exactly! We’re seeing layers upon layers. It’s not just what the actor is portraying; it's the artist's take, almost an inside joke with the viewer. Editor: This really gives me a new appreciation for Ukiyo-e beyond just pretty landscapes and geishas. Curator: Me too! And next time you watch live theatre, perhaps consider where the art of the actor intersects the art of portraiture.