The Kabuki Actor Matsumoto Kōshirō IV 1773 - 1793

Torii Kiyonaga rendered this woodblock print of the Kabuki actor Matsumoto Kōshirō IV in a moment of repose. Note the fan held by the standing figure. The fan, or ogi, speaks of status and control, yet its gentle wave suggests cooling relief. From ancient Greece to Renaissance Europe, the fan has served as a tool of both practicality and symbolic import, whispering unspoken social narratives. Consider how, in some cultures, the fan's material might convey wealth and status. The gesture of holding a fan becomes a powerful force. In the face of unbearable heat or social tension, the fan becomes an instrument to convey both fragility and strength. This simple object carries the weight of human emotion and memory, reminding us of the cyclical nature of symbols that persist, evolve, and resurface across time.