Actor Segawa Kikunojō 3rd as Oshizu, the Wife of Tanabe Bunzō from the Play "Hana-Ayame Bunroku Soga" (Miyako-za) Possibly 1794 - 1795

Editor: This is Tōshūsai Sharaku's "Actor Segawa Kikunojō 3rd as Oshizu," a woodblock print. The actor’s gaze is intense. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Sharaku's portraits offer a critical lens onto Edo society. Consider the rigid social hierarchy that confined actors to the lowest rungs, regardless of their fame. How might this portrait, with its unflinching realism, challenge or subvert those norms? Editor: So you are saying that because the art depicts reality, it inherently protests against those societal norms? Curator: Precisely! Sharaku captures the humanity of his subjects, demanding we acknowledge their presence and, perhaps, question the structures that marginalize them. Think about how gender, class, and representation intersect here. Editor: I see! It definitely gives me a lot to think about regarding art and social commentary.