Actor SOJURO 2ND, AS KUDO SUKETSUNE 

Curator: This is a print by Katsukawa Shun'ei, depicting the actor Sojuro the Second as Kudo Suketsune. It’s a woodblock print on paper. Editor: He has this stoic energy—like he’s holding back a storm. The fan and sword at his waist give him this cool, calm, collected look. Curator: Absolutely, and the materials used in the production of the print itself speak to the rise of a merchant class with disposable income who were interested in the Kabuki theatre. Editor: It feels so staged, so deliberate… everything is carefully arranged. Curator: These actor prints, or yakusha-e, became incredibly popular, essentially becoming a form of celebrity culture. Editor: I like how the cherry blossoms hint at something delicate and fleeting in contrast to his hardened stare. Curator: So many layers of meaning embedded in a single image, reflecting societal shifts and artistic innovation of the time. Editor: Exactly, and it's amazing how the artist creates such a strong presence with simple lines and colors. I keep coming back to that look in his eyes.