Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Issun Tokubei c. 1780s

Curator: This is Katsukawa Shunko's rendering of the actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Issun Tokubei. It’s a woodblock print, what we call "ukiyo-e," a popular art form depicting the floating world. Editor: My first impression is of controlled chaos! The figure is rigidly posed, yet he's hauling a massive, unruly fish. The tension is palpable. Curator: Yes, Ukiyo-e prints like this were often commissioned for kabuki theatre advertisements, portraying popular actors in their roles. The figure carrying a fish is symbolic. Editor: The fish, a koi, carries connotations of strength, perseverance, and even good fortune in Japanese culture. It’s like he's carrying his own destiny or perhaps a burden of responsibility. And I wonder about the labor involved in producing these prints—the carving, the printing, the collaborative effort behind each impression. Curator: Precisely! These prints allowed for mass consumption of imagery, impacting popular culture. Shunko’s composition uses vibrant colors and sharp lines. It is a striking image, one designed for repeated viewing, as the colors are integral to the narrative. Editor: I agree, this image’s symbolic weight and material creation speaks volumes. Curator: Indeed.