Actor Segawa Kikujirō [Segawa Kikunojō?] as Holding a Calligraphic Handscroll c. 1765 - 1792

Curator: This woodblock print, found at the Harvard Art Museums, is attributed to Ippitsusai Bunchō, and it depicts the actor Segawa Kikujirō holding a calligraphic handscroll. Editor: The subdued palette evokes a sense of quiet contemplation. I'm drawn to the texture implied by the patterns on the robe, how they contrast with the smoothness of the scroll. Curator: The Segawa clan were influential Kabuki actors. Prints like these were commodities, feeding the public's fascination with celebrity culture, so the materials and their distribution speak volumes. Editor: Absolutely. And that scroll—it's not merely a prop. It's a symbol of knowledge, of performance, a layered representation of the actor's identity beyond the stage. Curator: The woodblock printing process itself facilitated the widespread distribution of these images, impacting artistic production as both art and commodity. Editor: The image speaks to the power of representation, and how symbols become embedded in the cultural memory surrounding performance. Curator: It's fascinating to consider how this paper artifact reflects the dynamics of Edo-period consumerism and artistic labor. Editor: Ultimately, it is a reminder of the enduring power of images to convey complex cultural narratives.