The Fourth Iwai Hanshiro as a Woman Standing Beneath a Cherry Tree 1782 - 1802

Katsukawa Shun'ei created this woodblock print, titled "The Fourth Iwai Hanshiro as a Woman Standing Beneath a Cherry Tree", now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Visually, we are met with a composition that marries the figure with landscape elements. Shun'ei uses a subdued palette, with gentle pinks in the cherry blossoms contrasting subtly against the blues of the sea, and earthy greens. The layering of patterns—on the kimono, the water, and the distant land—creates a tapestry of textures, inviting the eye to explore the intricacies of each form. The print complicates traditional portraiture by emphasizing the figure’s stylized form and the interplay between surface design and depth. The cherry blossoms act as signs of transience, reflecting the fleeting nature of beauty and performance. This piece transcends mere representation, becoming a commentary on the ephemeral nature of identity, and the constructed nature of gender. The careful placement of line and color serves to destabilize conventional notions of representation. The formal qualities invite us to consider how art creates meaning through a confluence of aesthetic choices and cultural codes.