Ichikawa Sadanji as Moroboshi Chuya 1931

In this print, Natori Shunsen presents Ichikawa Sadanji as Moroboshi Chuya, likely using woodblocks or similar traditional methods. You can almost feel the artist's hand carefully carving away at the wood, building up the image line by line, color by color. I’m thinking about how the artist captured the actor’s focused intensity. The makeup, with its exaggerated lines and colors, feels like a mask, yet it reveals something deeper about the character and the actor portraying him. What’s the actor thinking as he’s applying his makeup? Is he getting into character? The choice of colors, the cool blues and reds, adds to the sense of drama and emotion. It reminds me of other artists who explore identity and performance through portraiture, each finding their own way to capture the human spirit. It’s an ongoing conversation across time, inspiring creativity and expression.