Actor Ichikawa Ebizō as Kamakura no GondayÅ«, actually Abe no Sadatō from the play "Otokoyama Oedo no Ishizue - Shinobu Koi Suzume no Irodoki" (Kiri-za) Possibly 1794

Editor: Here we have Tōshūsai Sharaku's woodblock print of "Actor Ichikawa Ebizō as Kamakura no Gondayū." The angular lines and that intense expression are quite striking. What can you tell us about this work? Curator: This print speaks volumes about the economics of Kabuki theatre and print production in 18th century Japan. Sharaku mass-produced these prints, focusing on the performative labor of actors like Ebizō, and the material culture surrounding their on-stage presence. Editor: So, it's less about the artistic genius and more about the system that created it? Curator: Precisely. The materials – the woodblocks, the ink, the paper – and the labor involved in their creation, distribution, and consumption, are all integral to understanding its significance. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about! Thanks!