Momotarō Using a Fan c. 1830s

Curator: What a charmer! I feel as though I've just stumbled upon a candid moment, full of quirks and quiet contemplation. Editor: Indeed. What we’re looking at is "Momotarō Using a Fan," a print by Yamada Hōgyoku from the 1830s, currently residing at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. As an ukiyo-e piece, it participates in a broader visual language that encoded social commentary. Curator: Ukiyo-e...ah, the floating world! Does this fellow look like he’s floating to you? There's a stillness about him. What is he thinking, holding not one, but *two* fans? One’s plain, the other quite decorative, and above his head is an odd cartouche bearing a peach. What is he up to? Editor: Momotarō, our figure, is a popular character in Japanese folklore, typically born from a peach, which perhaps explains that visual reference! He’s a symbol of youth, courage, and overcoming adversity. In the Edo period, depictions of Momotarō circulated as symbols of resistance, cloaked with layered, nuanced meanings that addressed censorship laws of the period. Curator: Ah, so there is more than meets the eye. And I suppose that sword strapped to his back isn't merely decorative, but perhaps symbolic of those acts of resistance. Now, knowing a bit more about him makes that initial, calm demeanor all the more intriguing. The artist cleverly juxtaposes elements of peaceful reflection and underlying strength. Don't you think? Editor: It is this interplay, so often at play in Ukiyo-e prints, that really captures the socio-political environment, infusing the artwork with layered symbolism to promote critical thinking in a period that resisted overt calls for political resistance. This is something we should carry with us as we observe the work, paying close attention to these figures, even when they present a façade of harmony and inner peace. Curator: Right you are! It seems like even in stillness, stories can simmer. It makes you wonder what hidden depths we miss in our own encounters, doesn’t it? Editor: Precisely. It encourages us to consider that visual serenity often masks much more complex social dynamics. The artist provides a snapshot, and leaves us with open questions.