The Second Nakamura Nakazo in the Role of Sadakuro in "Chushingura" 1795

Katsukawa Shun'ei created this woodblock print of "The Second Nakamura Nakazo" now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition arranges the figure vertically against a muted landscape of gray and yellow, dominated by linear textures. The actor is captured mid-motion, his form partially obscured by a cloak of radiating lines. Notice the dramatic use of line. Shun'ei employs both fine and bold strokes to define the figure and costume. The radiating lines of the cloak contrast with the geometric pattern of the kimono underneath. This interplay destabilizes our perception, blurring the boundaries between costume and character. The diagonal thrust of the figure is destabilizing. The actor's intense expression, framed by dark hair, conveys a sense of inner turmoil, challenging fixed notions of performance and identity. Shun'ei's dynamic use of line not only renders the visual details, but also destabilizes the viewer's understanding of the performance.