Nakayama Tomisaburo c. 1800

Editor: Here we have a woodblock print called "Nakayama Tomisaburo" created around 1800 by Enkyo, housed here at the Art Institute of Chicago. The figure, with very strong features and elaborate costume, appears rather detached and pensive. How should we interpret a work like this? Curator: Ukiyo-e prints, like this portrait, served an important function in Edo period society. They weren't simply decorative; they helped popularize Kabuki actors and promote specific theaters. This print, then, is part of a larger system of image production and consumption tied to the booming entertainment industry. Editor: So, the artist wasn't just capturing a likeness but participating in celebrity culture? Curator: Precisely! And look closer. Note how Enkyo exaggerates certain features. This isn't photo-realism, it's a stylized representation. How might that connect with the performance and persona of the actor Nakayama Tomisaburo on stage? Was he known for these features, were they the focus of mimicry or in-jokes amongst audiences? Editor: That makes me think about how stars are 'made', not just 'born', and how imagery is part of that process. I see the link between stagecraft and image creation so clearly now. Curator: Exactly! By circulating these prints, artists like Enkyo shaped public perception and contributed to the construction of fame. Furthermore, the fact this print exists in a museum shows a shift in our cultural understanding – we can now appreciate the object beyond its popular context and appreciate the skill and composition too. It’s a valuable lesson in the social power of images, and reminds us how art plays an active role in shaping the narratives of its time and ours.