The Actor Sawamura Sojuro III in an Unidentified Role c. late 1780s

Curator: Well, I find this ōban-sized print from the late 1780s fascinating. It’s by Katsukawa Shunko, titled "The Actor Sawamura Sojuro III in an Unidentified Role," now residing at The Art Institute of Chicago. What are your first impressions? Editor: A controlled tension. There's something both grand and vulnerable about him. The floral print gives the scene levity, a brief moment of relief, that makes the scene all more impressive. It's almost cinematic. Curator: Yes, the interplay between tension and repose is very carefully constructed through formal elements. Look at how the strong horizontal lines of the wooden railing bisect the composition, and how the actor's posture is nearly parallel, but he's ever-so-slightly turned away from the viewer, disrupting what might otherwise be too stable a structure. It keeps the eye in motion, and it adds emotional interest. Editor: Right. And, the costume speaks volumes. Its pattern – the plaid repeats the horizontal/vertical tension – visually places him against the architecture. His clothing binds him into this world even as the expression on his face hints at internal discord. One symbol overlapping another. Curator: An excellent reading. I'd like to delve into his kabuki persona as an exploration of identity and the self. Notice that despite the title mentioning the actor by name, the role remains unidentified. That intentional ambiguity enhances the piece—we see an actor embodying a character whose specifics are obscured, allowing us to examine his fundamental representation, his pose and stance as well. Editor: And kabuki itself becomes this interesting vessel for the anxieties, hopes, and desires of a very particular Japanese society at that time. Here's the star of the show, in costume, carrying his story – and maybe, more than his own. The art plays a fascinating metatextual game. Curator: I agree wholeheartedly. Its value lies not just in its aesthetics but also in what it reflects back to us. The dialogue between tradition and innovation, control and abandon—all expertly staged through form and symbol. Editor: It makes one think about the nature of performance itself. The many roles we play, and the symbolic weight our bodies carry as they navigate life’s stage. Thanks for pointing out the interesting dimensions within the piece. Curator: My pleasure. Thank you.