Actor Kataoka Nizaemon VIII as the demonic thief Orochimaru Possibly 1862

Editor: Okay, so this woodblock print, "Actor Kataoka Nizaemon VIII as the demonic thief Orochimaru," is thought to be from 1862 and was created by Utagawa Kunisada. It’s at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. What really grabs me are the snakes—or maybe they're spirit trails?– swirling around his feet and the intensity of his expression. What do you see when you look at this, especially beyond the immediate character? Curator: It's all rather delightfully wicked, isn't it? You know, what speaks to me most is the dance between the real and the surreal, something Utagawa Kunisada masters so brilliantly. We have the Kabuki actor, yes, posed formally for the print, but then *bam*, Kunisada injects this theatricality, this almost otherworldly presence through those serpentine forms. Makes you wonder if Orochimaru is entirely human, or something… more? Editor: So, you’re saying that Kunisada’s using visual elements to blur the lines between the character and… a kind of symbolic representation? Curator: Precisely! Think of the print as less of a portrait and more of an invocation. The snakes aren't just snakes; they're visual embodiments of Orochimaru's cunning, his chaotic energy, perhaps even his connection to the supernatural. It’s not just a depiction of a famous actor but of a feeling, a sliver of the uncanny. He wasn’t trying to capture his likeness so much as his *essence*, let's say, his brand! Does that ring true for you? Editor: Absolutely! The drama's not just in the face; it’s oozing out of every corner of the image. And those intense colours really pump up the volume. Thanks, that perspective shift really helps to untangle all those twisting serpents… I mean, ideas. Curator: Well, that's art for you, isn't it? A beautiful, twisting, writhing… snake pit, if you will, of ideas and interpretations. And hopefully, you and I managed to charm it!