Iwai Hanshirō IV as Kōtō no Naishi 1795

Tōshūsai Sharaku created this woodblock print portraying the actor Iwai Hanshirō IV as Kōtō no Naishi. The maple leaves above hint at autumn, a season of change and reflection in Japanese culture, subtly mirroring the character's complex emotions. Note the letter in the actor’s hand. Throughout history, across cultures, the act of reading a letter has been imbued with drama. Think of countless paintings depicting similar scenes—each unveiling secrets, delivering news, evoking feelings of longing or revelation. The letter is a motif laden with psychological weight. In this print, the actor’s slightly downturned gaze and the delicate rendering of his hand holding the letter suggest vulnerability. This emotional display, so carefully captured, invites us to ponder the character's inner world and the messages, both spoken and unspoken, that connect us across time. These resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.