The Actor Iwai Hanshiro as a Courtesan Reading a Love Letter while Mounted on a Black Ox 1753 - 1773

Editor: So, this striking woodblock print, “The Actor Iwai Hanshiro as a Courtesan Reading a Love Letter while Mounted on a Black Ox,” dates from between 1753 and 1773 and is by Torii Kiyomitsu. I’m immediately struck by the sort of...theatrical stillness of the piece. She's so poised up there! What’s your take on this, on what we're seeing here? Curator: Theatrical is right! This print throws us headfirst into the floating world of ukiyo-e. It's more than just a pretty picture; it's a story, a wink, a cross-dressing actor playing a courtesan perched on an ox, of all things! You see her face is serene even while astride such a beast. And that ox! Utterly unfazed. It's all a grand performance, isn’t it? What do you think all this role-play and visual layering achieves? Editor: Well, the role-play and layering make me think about identity, or maybe identities as a fluid, performative thing. It’s almost dreamlike… but also quite cheeky with the black ox and the big love letter. Curator: Cheeky indeed! It reminds us that art can be playful, irreverent even. This wasn't aiming for solemnity, it aimed for capturing a fleeting moment of entertainment. Ukiyo-e prints like this were the pop culture of their day – accessible, topical, and full of knowing winks to their audience. A daily dose of escapism, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I see what you mean. It definitely gives me a new perspective on what art from the past can be. I came expecting something…stuffier, maybe. Curator: It bursts the bubble, doesn’t it? Makes you wonder about all the stories hiding behind seemingly simple images.