Actor Ichikawa DanjÅ«rō 7th as Iga no Jutaro, with poems by Ikyōan Toshinobu and Shicido Kenba Possibly 1823

Curator: Here we see Utagawa Kunisada's woodblock print depicting the actor Ichikawa Danjūrō the 7th as Iga no Jutaro. It's currently part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Wow, those eyes! He looks utterly terrified, or maybe intensely focused. The way he's clutching that sword...it's really dramatic, isn't it? Curator: The portrayal taps into the conventions of Kabuki theatre, reflecting societal expectations of male performance and the construction of gender within the Edo period. Also, note the poems included, these give context for the depicted scene. Editor: It almost feels like a snapshot of a pivotal moment, you know? Like right before a big fight. You can almost hear the clatter of swords and the roar of the crowd! I wonder what story that expression tells. Curator: Considering Kabuki's role in expressing social tensions and cultural narratives, we might examine how this portrayal engages with themes of power, resistance, and even the anxieties of the time. Editor: It's wild how a simple print can spark so much thought. I guess that's the magic of art, right? Curator: Precisely. It invites us to unpack the layers of history and representation.