Memorial Portrait of the Actor Bando Shuka I 1855

This memorial portrait of the actor Bando Shuka I, of unknown date, was made by an anonymous artist using woodblock printing, a technique known as *ukiyo-e*. Consider the material reality of this work: the image is created by carving a design into a block of wood, applying ink, and then pressing paper against the block's surface. The lines are crisp and the colors flat due to this process. *Ukiyo-e* prints like this one weren't considered 'high art' at the time, but rather a popular, mass-produced commodity. Their availability allowed for wider consumption of images, connecting viewers to the world of theater and celebrity. The print's texture is a testament to the labor-intensive process of carving, inking, and printing. It is also an important insight into the circulation of images and popular culture in Japan. Looking closely at the materials and the making of this portrait, you can appreciate not only its aesthetic qualities but also its place in the broader social and economic landscape of its time.