The Fifth Ichikawa Danjuro as a Samurai 1775 - 1795

Curator: Let's turn our attention to a woodblock print dating from between 1775 and 1795, held here at the Met. It's by Katsukawa Shunko, and it's titled "The Fifth Ichikawa Danjuro as a Samurai." Editor: The image immediately projects power, doesn't it? A controlled ferocity in that gaze, almost like he’s bracing himself. I feel tension just looking at it. Curator: Absolutely. Katsukawa's focus on the actor Ichikawa Danjuro, a celebrated figure in kabuki theatre, positions this piece within broader narratives of performance and identity. These actor portraits, popular in ukiyo-e prints, provided commentary on social hierarchies. In these cases, the samurai represents power as performed within a theatre and within social expectations of class. Editor: Yes, and this particular pose seems pregnant with symbolic weight. Notice the position of the sword, held at a threatening angle; it evokes stories of duty, honor, and perhaps vengeance. The patterns of the garments might tell their own story about wealth, affiliation, even theatrical traditions from that time. Curator: Right, these prints weren't just likenesses; they were advertisements, but they also offered commentary on the actors themselves. Here, we see Katsukawa cleverly combining artistic interpretation and historical observation. Think of it like celebrity portraiture, with its inherent capacity to solidify narratives and promote ideologies about class. Editor: So, through imagery and skillful carving techniques that are, the patterns of the garment serve a narrative function to underscore his role and to tap into already familiar associations held by viewers. But more so to indicate moral characteristics? Curator: Precisely, but also, to understand ukiyo-e we can think about who was commissioning, and for whom the portraits were intended. It's a way to ground a symbol to better know who has access to them, and the significance of this accessibility. It underscores art’s value as a reflection of historical systems. Editor: This image serves as an important reminder of the stories told through performance. Curator: I concur—through both performance and symbolic resonance.