Actor Nakamura Senya as Tokonatsu in the Kabuki Play, "The Legacy of the Three-Comma Family Crest Revealed" (Mitsutomoe Katoku Binaki) 1706 - 1726

Curator: What an arresting image! I'm immediately drawn to the figure's theatrical presence. Editor: Absolutely! We are looking at a print from the early 18th century by Torii Kiyomasu I. It depicts the actor Nakamura Senya in the Kabuki play "The Legacy of the Three-Comma Family Crest Revealed". It is part of the Ukiyo-e tradition, which translates to "pictures of the floating world." Curator: Ah, the floating world! That term in itself hints at the transience and performance at the heart of this image. The stylized pose, the prominent umbrella—everything seems heightened and deliberate. It certainly speaks of a constructed identity, reflecting on cultural ideals represented through performance. Editor: Precisely. The umbrella itself acts as a key symbol here, offering not just physical but also metaphorical shelter. Note the crest emblazoned on the actor’s robe. It is echoed by the patterns on their robes and fan, solidifying the themes of lineage, tradition and social position within a tightly structured society. Even the blossoming plum branch serves to subtly hint at springtime and renewal in that symbolic lexicon. Curator: Interesting! I see the umbrella less as shelter and more as a prop—an integral part of the actor’s performance and public image. These Kabuki prints, displayed and consumed by audiences, fueled a kind of celebrity culture of the era. Editor: True, their performative power definitely went beyond the theater stage. Still, looking at the very graphic quality of the printmaking and considering its dissemination—doesn’t the very flatness heighten that artificiality, strengthening those symbols for mass understanding? The heavy lines serve almost as a visual code. Curator: A visual code distributed and understood widely in its time, cementing social norms, but also, arguably, establishing new modes of representation. It challenges us to consider art not only as aesthetics, but also in relation to production, circulation, and the cultural industries that shape our perceptions. Editor: Indeed! Considering all these interwoven ideas has changed the way I look at this print –it is far more complex and culturally significant than a beautiful figure under an umbrella. Thank you for enriching my perspective! Curator: The pleasure was mine. It's so rewarding to explore the rich historical, social and performative layers within a single, striking image.