Beauty and Young Man Riding an Ox (parody of Kyoyu and Sobu?) c. 1740s

Editor: Here we have "Beauty and Young Man Riding an Ox (parody of Kyoyu and Sobu?)," a woodblock print in ink by Nishimura Shigenaga, dating to the 1740s. What strikes me is the juxtaposition of elegance and… well, a very determined-looking ox. What do you see in this piece, looking at it from a critical point of view? Curator: It's tempting to see this image merely as charming. However, locating Shigenaga's work within the socio-political context of the Edo period reveals more. The parody itself points to a subversive critique. What's being mocked, and who is the audience for this humor? Think about class structures. Ukiyo-e often gave voice to the merchant class, a rising power that subtly challenged the established samurai elite. Editor: So the humor is a form of… resistance? A way to poke fun at traditional authority? Curator: Precisely. This "beauty," and the young man – their clothing, their postures – are they truly celebrating tradition, or slyly dismantling it? Consider the original tale of Kyoyu and Sobu, refusing worldly possessions, and then consider how this image reframes that narrative within the burgeoning consumer culture of Edo. Whose values are being elevated here? And what does the inclusion of an ox, rather than say, a horse, signify? Editor: Perhaps it's about shifting societal values and norms, replacing reverence for traditional narratives with everyday experiences? Curator: Exactly. How might gender dynamics play a role as well? The beauty on the ox may reference powerful women from the past and yet here, she’s literally “on” the ox and metaphorically ‘on top’ by taking the higher seating, above everyone else in the composition, what would she represent in this societal shift? It’s a complex and layered critique that deserves close consideration. Editor: I see it now, there is much more going on beyond a cute image. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely! Recognizing art as social commentary allows us to truly engage with these pieces beyond surface level appreciation.