Actors Ichikawa DanjÅ«rō 4th and Segawa Kikunojō 5th in Dressing Room, with poems by Dondontei and associates c. 1815 - 1830

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the stark contrast – the stillness of the seated figure versus the dynamic pose of the standing one. Editor: This is Utagawa Kunisada's woodblock print, "Actors Ichikawa DanjÅ«rō 4th and Segawa Kikunojō 5th in Dressing Room." It offers a glimpse behind the scenes in the Kabuki world. Curator: The mirror, partially obscured, almost seems to symbolize the dual identities these actors embody – performer and person. Editor: Indeed. The poems inscribed above add another layer, perhaps alluding to the play itself or the actors' personal lives, intertwined with their roles. Curator: And the subtle eroticism suggested by the dressing scene was not uncommon in prints intended for popular consumption at the time. Editor: It’s a fascinating piece, revealing not just artistic skill but also the social fabric surrounding the Kabuki theater. Curator: I find myself reflecting on the ephemerality of performance, captured here in a fleeting moment.