The Fifth Ichikawa Danjuro as a Man in Winter Apparel 1788

Editor: This is "The Fifth Ichikawa Danjuro as a Man in Winter Apparel," a woodblock print made around 1788 by Katsukawa Shunko. I find it evocative of the starkness of winter, especially in the Kabuki actor’s burdened posture. How do you read this print? Curator: Well, my dear, first off, what isn't there is just as crucial as what is. The artist plays with emptiness like a Zen master. Notice the background – those minimalist bamboo stalks against a sky barely there at all? That negative space amplifies the solitary feel. The actor is clearly struggling. Think of that lantern - the actor must carry all of these heavy things during winter... How tiring! Editor: The bamboo behind him - is that significant? Curator: Ah, absolutely! Bamboo in Japanese art and poetry, symbolizes resilience. It bends but doesn't break, mirroring perhaps the actor’s own perseverance amidst a harsh landscape or, dare I say, a demanding profession. But there's humor too! Imagine this celebrated actor trudging through a snow drift…it's humanizing, isn't it? It reminds me of the time I myself tried to navigate a Tokyo fish market in stilettos… Editor: So it’s about finding strength even in what looks bleak? Curator: Precisely! Shunko makes us think about the strength we require of performers, and of ourselves, when weathering our own figurative "winters." And frankly, a little fashionable grit never hurt anyone. You know, sometimes I wonder if he was actually comfortable doing his Kabuki make up? What do you think? Editor: That’s a cool perspective, and thinking about him carrying all that stuff on him now reminds me I should really travel lighter! Curator: It reminds us that even legends have burdens to bear, which, let's be honest, is oddly comforting, yes?