The Actor Onoye Matsusuke I, as a Man Holding a Closed Fan in His Right Hand 1770 - 1790

This woodblock print by Katsukawa Shun'ei portrays the actor Onoye Matsusuke I with understated elegance. The closed fan in his hand becomes a focal point, laden with symbolic meaning in Edo-period Japan. The fan, often a symbol of status and refinement, here is held closed, hinting at restraint or hidden potential. One is reminded of the classical motif of Fortuna, who may grant a boon or withhold it, a visual echo across cultures and eras. In ancient Roman imagery, Fortuna's wheel represents the unpredictability of fate, resonating with the actor's poised uncertainty. This recalls the actor’s power to shape-shift into different roles, yet he’s holding back here, retaining potential energy. Such a symbolic gesture taps into our collective memory, engaging us subconsciously. It reminds us that meaning is not fixed, but fluid, continuously reshaped by time and culture. The image thus becomes a testament to how symbols resurface, evolve, and acquire new meanings in different historical contexts.