Actor Otani Tokuji AS AMAKAWAYA GIHEI 

Curator: Katsukawa Shunko's woodblock print presents the actor Otani Tokuji as Amakawaya Gihei. The materiality of this work, from the paper to the inks, speaks to a culture of mass-produced art accessible to a broad audience. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the figure's vulnerability, wrapped in what appears to be a hastily donned robe. The emblem on the apron is intriguing. Curator: Indeed. These prints, ukiyo-e, were commercial products. Note the lines, the key blocks, and the color blocks—each a separate stage in production, a collaborative effort. Editor: The emblem, a circle containing a symbol that reads 德 (Toku) reflects themes of virtue or merit—perhaps key to the character portrayed? Curator: This print offers a glimpse into the material culture of Japanese theatre and its consumption. It’s a fascinating artifact of its time. Editor: It leaves me pondering the actor's emotional state and the deeper symbolic layers of his character's narrative. Curator: Exactly, and how those narratives were consumed, reproduced, and distributed so widely. Editor: A moment captured, yet brimming with layers of meaning.