MAN IN BLACK CAP 

Editor: This is "Man in Black Cap" by Katsukawa Shunko. It's a Japanese woodblock print, and I find the figure's stern expression so striking. What do you read in his posture? Curator: His posture, combined with the black cap, speaks to the performative aspects of identity and societal roles in Edo-period Japan. Are we looking at a critique of power? Perhaps a reflection on the restrictions placed upon individuals? Editor: So, you're suggesting the cap isn't just a cap? Curator: Not at all! Think about what "performing" a role means. How does costume dictate behavior, and how does art comment on that relationship? Consider how the very act of depicting this figure might challenge or reinforce existing social norms. Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way. I was focused on the face, the expression. Curator: Exactly! And what does that expression *do* in relation to everything else? Editor: This gives me a lot to consider about the relationship between art, identity, and performance.