The Actor Reading a Scroll 

Utagawa Kunisada created this woodblock print of an actor reading a scroll, which is now housed in the Brooklyn Museum. The composition balances formal portraiture with the narrative potential of the theatrical world. The actor, dressed in a black kimono, is caught in a moment of contemplation. Look at the sharp lines of his face and the angular folds of his garment, which contrast with the soft, patterned backgrounds. Kunisada uses color to denote space, alternating between deep blues and vivid reds in the geometric patterns that frame the actor. The scroll in his hands introduces a textual element that complements the visual. Notice the figures and decorations beyond. The artist hints at the multilayered nature of performance, suggesting a world of illusion and artifice. The silhouettes in the window and the suspended puppet further destabilize the distinction between reality and representation, questioning the very act of seeing and interpreting.