The Actor Arashi Otohachi as a Young Samurai in Woman's Clothes 1746 - 1766

Editor: Here we have Torii Kiyohiro's print, "The Actor Arashi Otohachi as a Young Samurai in Woman's Clothes," created sometime between 1746 and 1766. It feels so meticulously constructed, with patterns everywhere you look! What symbols do you see at play in this image? Curator: It’s fascinating how Ukiyo-e prints often collapse social categories – here, we see a male actor in female garb, portraying a samurai, a class known for masculinity, which is quite subversive. What does it tell you about the mutability of identity during that period? Editor: It's almost like the artist is making a statement. Is it about performance, and the blurring of roles? Curator: Precisely. Consider the parasol – it shelters from the sun, of course, but what else could it represent in terms of status, protection, even theatrical presentation? Who do you think is in charge, the one carrying the umbrella, or the one protected by it? Editor: I guess it depends on your perspective and perhaps what the context of the image would have been at that time. Is this a common image or theme to have at that time? Curator: The theme itself—actors, fashion, everyday life— was typical, yes. The symbolic language is layered, reflecting desires, fears, and social mobility within a rigid hierarchy. What remains today is an echo chamber of cultural memory and performance, now filtered through our modern gaze. How does the image speak to you? Editor: I am more aware of layers of performance. What I thought was a fairly simple image becomes a space for thinking about social rules, class and identity. Curator: Indeed! The print serves as a poignant reminder of the complex dialogues happening within the cultural landscape.