Sonosuke in the role of Koharu 1915

Yamamura Toyonari made this print of Sonosuke as Koharu using wood blocks, a process of layering colours, each applied separately to build up the final image. I imagine Toyonari carefully carving away at the wood, thinking about the weight and density of the actor’s hair, the folds of the kimono, the tilt of the head. It must have been a labor of love, translating three-dimensional forms into flat planes of colour. I’m drawn to the way Toyonari captures the subtle curve of the actor’s neck and the almost melancholic expression on his face. There’s something so tender about the way he holds the pipe, as if lost in thought, and he’s caught in this in-between moment, suspended, and maybe a little bit sad? The lines are so clear and distinct, and yet there’s a softness that comes through, like a whisper. It’s like artists are always riffing off each other, borrowing and building upon ideas. Each piece is a little echo in this long conversation we’re all having.