The Actor, 3rd Sawamura Sojuro Holding an Open Fan 1769 - 1789

Curator: Katsukawa Shunko's woodblock print, "The Actor, 3rd Sawamura Sojuro Holding an Open Fan," made sometime between 1769 and 1789, presents an iconic figure from the Kabuki theater. Editor: The image immediately strikes me as capturing a performative moment— the sidelong glance, the carefully posed fan. The subdued palette gives it a nostalgic, almost melancholic air. Curator: The fan is essential. In Kabuki, props aren’t just objects; they are extensions of the actor’s emotional expression. Holding it this way—open, but not fully—suggests restrained passion or contemplation, coded gesture known by audiences. Editor: Absolutely, and consider the historical context. Ukiyo-e prints, like this one, were incredibly popular, in a way they were proto-celebrity culture! They immortalized famous actors like Sawamura, democratizing access to these stars for a wider audience beyond the theatre itself. Did it challenge established notions of social status? Curator: Precisely! Moreover, the placement under cherry blossom is an important aspect. Beyond seasonal markers or stage backdrops, the blossoms function as reminders of the transience of beauty, linking the performer to notions of fragility and impermanence so popular at that time. Editor: This is about more than just aesthetics though. It reflects broader socio-political sentiments in late 18th century Japan. Kabuki, while hugely popular, faced periodic bans due to its perceived subversiveness. Prints like this arguably functioned as quiet acts of cultural preservation, a way of resisting those efforts at social control. Curator: And one can see how its aesthetics has been copied or alluded to until today, in posters, advertisements or comic book imagery. Editor: These artworks invite us to reflect on celebrity, performance, and cultural resistance, and to appreciate how image and gesture have become intertwined to express gendered codes and power structures. Curator: A powerful connection, I believe. Through keen observations and symbolic understanding, the past illuminates a cultural journey with great subtlety. Editor: Indeed, reminding us that art can act as both mirror and catalyst for profound social shifts, it shows just how performance intersects with the cultural fabric.