Little Flora - Shibaraku

Shibaraku — meaning "just a moment" or "wait" — is one of kabuki's most famous mie (dramatic poses), typically performed by the aragoto rough-style actor who freezes in an extravagant pose to halt injustice. Kawano's Little Flora Shibaraku translates this theatrical moment into a miniaturized, possibly playful register — a child figure adopting the exaggerated pose with an innocence that comments gently on the grandiosity of the adult theatrical tradition. Printed in the 1950s to 1960s, this work reflects his sustained interest in the intersection of folk, theatrical, and figurative subjects.