Actor Nakamura DenkÅ«rō 2nd AS KAGEKIYO 

Editor: This is "Actor Nakamura Denkuro 2nd AS KAGEKIYO" by Katsukawa Shunko, a woodblock print at the Harvard Art Museums. The subject seems weighed down, and the lines are quite angular. What strikes you about the composition? Curator: The tension lies in the interplay between the rigid, geometric pattern of the actor's robe and the more organic, textured rendering of the straw mat on his back. Notice how the artist employs contrasting diagonals to create visual interest. The negative space around the figure enhances the feeling of constraint. Editor: So the contrast highlights the actor's struggle. It is very interesting, thank you. Curator: Indeed, and the use of line contributes to this reading. It's all about the formal relationships, wouldn't you agree?