Memorial Portrait of Iwai Hanshirō VI Possibly 1836

Curator: I'm drawn to the tranquil sadness in this print. Is this the Utagawa Sadafusa portrait of Iwai Hanshirō VI? Likely created around 1836? It has such a contemplative mood. Editor: Yes, indeed. It is. What strikes me immediately are the downcast eyes. In art, we tend to connect averted gazes with a sense of humility, perhaps even mourning, like the ones you mentioned. Here, coupled with the hands folded inward and the delicate kimono… there’s a story of quiet strength being told. Curator: That is precisely what captures my attention—that hint of stoicism woven with vulnerability. In a way, Sadafusa lets the viewer be more familiar with this celebrated kabuki actor, showing him as someone who feels just as intensely as those in the audience. It feels almost scandalous somehow, considering his position. Editor: The kabuki actor, though a cultural icon, then, shares that vulnerability, democratizing the experience through this portrait, making him both divine and human, relatable to a broad audience. Note also how the blossoms and patterns decorating the kimono, signs of spring and beauty, become symbols of transition and perhaps a lament for fleeting life? Curator: Absolutely! The contrast with his somber pose magnifies his feelings of tenderness. And, interestingly enough, look at the column of calligraphy beside the figure. Are they eulogies, or poetry even? Are we invited to interpret Hanshirō's life beyond the persona on stage? Editor: These prints often intertwine visuals with words. This particular piece of calligraphy contributes a kind of memorial inscription to the piece, which is very appropriate considering its function and somber attitude, like whispers of his lasting presence beyond just this representation. The choice of this blue hue must be more than an aesthetic choice too; a lot of meanings can come into play when it is used within a print like this one. Curator: A gentle dance, perhaps? He becomes even more intriguing—more elusive and real—with each layer we discover. And maybe that’s what this print seeks to give its viewers - a quiet acknowledgment of the layers that each of us carry inside, like hidden kimonos we conceal or reveal to the world at whim. Editor: Perhaps through understanding and uncovering symbols, we can know this performer as the persona we give out, but at the same time, also the real person behind it. What a lovely mirror he holds up for the viewer.