Actor Ichikawa Yaozō AS A WOODCUTTER 

Curator: Here we have Utagawa Kunimasa's woodblock print, "Actor Ichikawa Yaozo as a Woodcutter," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, wow, those eyes! They’re almost popping off the page. There is something so raw and vulnerable in that intense gaze that just grabs you. Curator: Indeed. Observe how Kunimasa employs bold outlines and flat planes of color. The meticulous application of line and pattern is crucial to the reading of this image. Editor: I can see that, definitely. The costume detailing, those geometric patterns and stripes, are pretty striking next to the actor’s, shall we say, arresting expression. It's theatrical, but incredibly intimate at the same time. Curator: A fascinating tension, isn’t it? The formal rigor juxtaposed with that spark of emotion. A reminder that art can operate on multiple registers simultaneously. Editor: Absolutely. It’s a bit like life, isn't it? Rigidity and passion, all mixed in the same frame. Thanks, Kunimasa, for showing us that!