The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II c. 1758

Curator: Ah, I love this one. We're looking at "The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II" from around 1758, a woodcut print by Torii Kiyomitsu. It's a stunning example of Ukiyo-e portraiture currently residing here at The Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: Wow, it's so elegant! The soft colors and delicate lines give it such a dreamy quality. He, or she?, seems completely lost in thought, maybe a little melancholic even? Curator: Well, that's Kikunojo II. This print emerges from a vibrant period of Kabuki theatre. Male actors who specialized in female roles were often celebrated for capturing the essence of feminine beauty, becoming idols and fashion icons. These images weren’t merely representations but cultural commentaries on gender, performance, and societal ideals. Editor: That’s fascinating. It totally reframes the image for me, thinking about how gender is being performed, almost… abstracted? And there's a tension, right? It's like this idealized woman being filtered through a male persona. Curator: Precisely. Kiyomitsu emphasizes line and flattened perspective—hallmarks of the Ukiyo-e style. He’s not trying to create a realistic representation but an evocative one. The umbrella, the kimono design, even the text calligraphic elements are all integral parts of constructing that. It invites reflection on the fluidity of identity, too. Editor: Yeah, the umbrella makes him look so ephemeral. Like he might just float away! Curator: Absolutely. Consider how these prints circulated within society. They acted as promotional materials, celebrity endorsements, and forms of social commentary. This wasn't art for art’s sake—it was intertwined with commerce, theatre, and public perception. Editor: I can imagine these plastered everywhere, kind of like movie posters. And they tell a similar story about aspiration and celebrity worship. This makes you really think about how little some things have changed over the centuries, in terms of gender or consumerism, you know? Curator: That’s Ukiyo-e in a nutshell: it encapsulates its era but continues to resonate across temporal boundaries. Editor: Well, I definitely see Kabuki in a new light now. So much more than just costumes and dramatic makeup!