MAN IN RED HAKAMA 

Curator: Katsukawa Shunkō's print, titled "Man in Red Hakama," presents a Kabuki actor in vibrant attire. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The sheer intensity of the gaze! It’s so direct, almost confrontational, and the starkness of the red against the subdued background really amplifies that feeling. Curator: Indeed. Shunkō masterfully uses color and line to convey the actor's inner drama. Note how the geometric patterns of the hakama contrast with the organic flow of the robes. Editor: The tension between those shapes! It's as if the costume is a cage, barely containing the actor’s energy, further emphasized by those tightly clutched objects. Curator: Precisely. Kabuki prints like these weren't just portraits; they were capturing a specific moment, an essence of performance. Editor: I find the vulnerability of the bare feet juxtaposed with the warrior-like presence fascinating. He's grounded, exposed, yet still formidable. Curator: It's a clever play on contrasts, and a revealing glimpse into the multifaceted nature of identity, both on and off stage. Editor: A remarkable artwork that really encourages us to look past the surface and really see a complex individual.