Actor Sawamura Tosshō I as Kakogawa Honzō c. 1833

This woodblock print captures Actor Sawamura Tosshō I as Kakogawa Honzō, created by Utagawa Kunisada. We observe the actor in character, framed within a fan-shaped cartouche, holding what appears to be a document, perhaps a letter or a decree. The fan itself is a symbol, not merely of cooling, but of status and power. Consider its presence in various eras—from the flabella in ancient Egypt, used to fan pharaohs, to its adoption in European courts. In each context, it signifies authority. Even the document held by the actor, reminiscent of proclamations or sacred texts, carries weight, like the tablets of law etched in stone, demanding respect and obedience. What resonates here is not just the narrative of the play, but the enduring motifs of power and representation—symbols that transcend time, resurfacing in diverse cultural forms. These images tap into our collective memory, echoing through history.