Ichikawa Komazō III as Nitta Yoshisada, actually Oyamada Tarō Takaie 1795

Editor: This woodblock print from 1795 by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicts Ichikawa Komazō III in the role of Nitta Yoshisada, but actually Oyamada Tarō Takaie. The actor’s expression is so striking; a mix of pensiveness and maybe even cunning? What symbols or meanings do you see embedded in this piece? Curator: Well, Sharaku's portraits are always so charged. He wasn't just capturing a likeness, but the very essence of the character, and the actor’s interpretation too. Consider the placement of the hand to the face: it suggests deep thought, but also perhaps a hidden agenda, a withholding. Remember this is ukiyo-e; the floating world. Editor: The floating world, right, transient and illusionary. So, are you saying that the symbolism isn’t fixed but is dependent on this complex web of character, actor, and audience expectation? Curator: Precisely. The theatrical role carries a cultural memory, Nitta Yoshisada being a loyal hero, but here, subverted in some way by Sharaku. Look at the prop he holds, that bundle; even that unassuming element can take on layered meanings depending on the viewer's background knowledge of the play and of historical context. What feelings arise as you look closer at his garments? Editor: They look so ordinary for the status the actor surely has. And the branch overhead hints to a more scenic setting, rather than a psychological depiction. It is just a small fragment. Curator: The subdued plaid pattern of his robes could subtly hint at his "actual" lower status as Takaie, further complicating the narrative, don’t you think? The falling maple leaves overhead provide an inescapable visual reference to Japanese traditions about change and time passing, impermanence. Everything means. Editor: This makes me want to learn about theatre. The more I look, the more this print reflects layers of narrative. Curator: Exactly! And seeing the layers beneath the surface of that floating world is what it is all about.