Matsumoto Koshiro as Watanabe no Tsuna 1951

Natori Shunsen made this woodblock print of Matsumoto Koshiro, a Japanese Kabuki actor, sometime in the early to mid 20th century. I wonder what it was like to carve all those shapes. Look at those fierce, dramatic eyebrows, and that open mouth—what do you imagine he's yelling? Maybe a battle cry, or an expression of intense emotion on stage? I love the way Shunsen used such fine lines to show the texture of the actor's hair. It's fascinating how the patterns on his robe contrast with the smooth expanse of his face, and the muted gray background. The whole print balances detail and simplicity. The actor’s gesture really draws you in. You can see the character's intensity through the curve of his brow, the strain in his neck, and the force behind that open mouth. It reminds me that the work of a painter is in conversation with the work of an actor – and maybe that all art forms require us to be both vulnerable and brave.