Women Admiring Peonies c. 1789 - 1801

Curator: "Women Admiring Peonies" is an absolutely gorgeous color woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunchō. Dating from about 1789 to 1801, it is part of the Ukiyo-e tradition and currently residing at The Art Institute of Chicago. My first thought on seeing it? What a calming snapshot of daily life! Editor: Calm, yes, but also… cleverly arranged! The artist uses three distinct sections to almost build a narrative around the flowers. On the left, women tend the garden, while the middle shows figures possibly visiting, then culminating in admiration on the right. Curator: Exactly! The peonies act like a centerpiece, literally and figuratively, drawing these women into connection with each other. What symbols stand out for you? The water flowing through each panel perhaps? Editor: Oh, most definitely the water. It seems to divide and yet unite the panels. Water signifies so many things—purity, change, even the passage of time. Then, of course, we have the Peony itself, the 'king of flowers,' emblematic of wealth, honor, and feminine beauty in East Asian art. These women aren't just looking at flowers; they're gazing at reflections of aspiration. Curator: Aspirations so gently rendered! Shunchō captures such graceful, everyday scenes. I especially adore how he depicts the fabric, look how delicately drawn is the weave, each figure carefully posed and presented. It is as if their robes were painted with watercolors! Editor: And it brings a certain reality into Ukiyo-e prints. Which reminds us these artworks, while celebrating beauty, also capture moments in a shifting social tapestry. The poses are stylized but relatable, the details of their kimonos speak volumes about their place in the world. These women, the spaces, they reflect the values of their society, how they expressed themselves. Curator: It's amazing to think how much symbolism and history can be held within a single, exquisitely carved woodblock! Makes you look a little differently at your next garden visitor, eh? Editor: Indeed! These women aren't just admiring peonies; they're whispering secrets of history, status, beauty, and societal longing to anyone willing to pause and listen.