Acteur met schaaltje 1840

Curator: This woodcut, dating from around 1840, is by Utagawa Kunisada. The Rijksmuseum holds this print, known as "Acteur met schaaltje"—"Actor with a Small Dish." Editor: The initial impression is quite striking. A feeling of the immediate, the spontaneous. The quick lines suggesting depth and a kind of rough materiality in the actor’s clothing. I see layering—an economy of line to describe complex forms. Curator: Note how Kunisada has employed figuration alongside symbolic elements in this print. What appears at first to be a simple portrait reveals more nuanced meanings as we consider the actor's attire, accessories, and that intriguing dish. He holds that dish carefully, like an offering. Is it food? Editor: Perhaps. Consider the tools of production, though. The woodcut process, carving away material to leave a raised surface…that action mimics the act of preparing the dish itself! The layering of ink reflects the layering of flavors. It's a direct, tangible connection between process and subject. Curator: I find myself focusing on the imagery worked into the robes, ghostly white figures and the arrow quiver to his upper left. They contrast the central figure— perhaps pointing to narratives the actor embodies. It begs the question: is it Kunisada who shows the man's craft, or the figure depicting layers of symbolism with his figure alone? Editor: The social context must be emphasized. Woodblock printing wasn't some solitary artistic endeavor, you know. Think about the artisans involved, the distributors selling the image to the population—it's about broader consumption patterns, a portrait as accessible craft! Curator: I can agree on a deeper, more profound aspect as well. A singular object connects him to a whole theatre tradition. Symbols offer him something permanent when portraying impermanent arts. Editor: In the end, both material production and image come together to represent the subject to an audience through social roles—which connects the artist and subject of this woodcut!