Actors Ichimura Kamezō as Soga no Gorō and Nakamura Tomejirō as a Female Asahina c. mid 18th century

Editor: This is Torii Kiyomitsu’s woodblock print, "Actors Ichimura Kamezō as Soga no Gorō and Nakamura Tomejirō as a Female Asahina". The figures are so stylized, almost caricatures. What kind of statement do you think Kiyomitsu was trying to make here? Curator: Considering Kiyomitsu’s context, it’s vital to understand the cultural position of Kabuki theatre. Often, it served as a space for social commentary. How might this image, depicting actors in specific roles, challenge or reinforce societal norms of gender and power? Editor: I never thought about it that way. So, the exaggerated features could be a way of critiquing those in power? Curator: Precisely. And think about the performative nature of identity, even today. What aspects of ourselves do we amplify or conceal? Editor: It's like they're holding up a mirror to society, but a funhouse mirror.