The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro IV as Sukeroku in the play "Choseiden Fudan-zakura," performed at the Nakamura Theater in the fourth month, 1756 1756

Editor: Here we have Torii Kiyohiro’s woodblock print from 1756, "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro IV as Sukeroku". It's quite striking, the figure fills the space. What symbols stand out to you? Curator: Immediately, the umbrella grabs my attention. Consider its dual nature: protection and status. The umbrella is held aloft, not merely shielding the actor, but almost flaunting itself, linking him to notions of authority and respect. Does that visual tension between function and symbolism resonate with you? Editor: It does! It makes me think about how stage personas connect to cultural identity. He’s in costume but carries himself like that role defines him. Curator: Precisely. Note the two swords, a visible emblem of his warrior status, and what about his gaze? The actor’s upward glance directs our attention beyond the immediate scene. Is it arrogance? Is it defiance? Does the symbol suggest an aspirational quality, a striving beyond earthly concerns? Editor: Perhaps both? He seems very present, yet aware of a world beyond. The circular designs on the robe - are they family crests? Curator: Those family crests are powerful identifiers of lineage and history. It’s a careful balance, the actor displaying both individuality and connection to his family legacy through inherited imagery. Notice, too, how that large character painted onto the bucket visually grounds him, yet what does that character represent to you? What could it suggest about rituals of purification, rites of transformation or theatrical reinvention? Editor: Fascinating. Seeing how everyday objects and costume work together is helping me consider new layers of meaning! Curator: Indeed. These combined symbols offer profound insight, revealing an artwork charged with complex and ever-evolving cultural narratives.