Actor Yamashita Kinsaku as Asama, from the series Beauties of the Three Cities, Edo, Osaka, and Kyoto c. early 18th century

Curator: This delicate print by Okumura Toshinobu, made around the mid-18th century, portrays the actor Yamashita Kinsaku as Asama, a figure celebrated in Edo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Editor: There's a quiet melancholy to it, isn’t there? The muted colors and downward gaze create a sense of introspection. Curator: Yes, and observe how Toshinobu uses line. The bold outlines create defined shapes, while the internal lines add depth to the kimono’s design. The actor’s stance creates a compelling diagonal dynamic. Editor: The choice to depict an actor in female attire speaks volumes about the Kabuki theater's influence. It was a cultural phenomenon that blurred social lines and celebrated performers, and the artwork memorializes that. Curator: The artist’s attention to the details of the costume are also noteworthy, revealing the importance of fashion and status in 18th-century Japanese society. Editor: It really makes you think about the role of celebrity and the theater's capacity to shape identities back then. Curator: Indeed, and Toshinobu's composition allows us to glimpse that world, even centuries later.