Actor TAKINAKA KASSEN 

Editor: Here we see "Actor TAKINAKA KASSEN" by Katsukawa Shunko, held at the Harvard Art Museums. It has such a contemplative aura to it. What do you make of this piece? Curator: It’s like a whisper, isn't it? I imagine Shunkō capturing not just the actor's likeness, but also the delicate tension of the moment. The lines and colours seems to capture the essence of Kabuki theatre itself. Editor: Kabuki theatre? Curator: Yes, the actor's gaze, the subtle colours... it's all a performance within a performance! What do you think he's thinking in this very moment? Editor: I guess I hadn't thought of it that way. Now I feel like I'm seeing layers beneath layers. Curator: Art, like life, is just that. Isn't it marvellous?