Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke AS A DAIMYO 

Editor: This woodblock print depicts Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke as a Daimyo. The patterned kimono catches my eye. How should we interpret this work? Curator: Focus on the tangible: the woodblock's grain, the pigments used, the labor involved in carving and printing. Consider how the artist’s hand and the materials themselves shape our understanding of the actor's representation. Editor: So, by looking at the materiality, we understand the social context in which it was made? Curator: Precisely. The print becomes not just an image, but a product of specific techniques and economic conditions. Think about the role of prints in disseminating images and constructing celebrity. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about regarding production and consumption. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Considering the labor transforms our reading of the work.