Matsukaze, from "Album of Courtesans (Keisei ehon)" c. 1700

Curator: Right now we're looking at *Matsukaze, from "Album of Courtesans (Keisei ehon)"*, a woodblock print made with ink on paper by Torii Kiyonobu I around 1700. It's part of the collection here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the quiet grace of it. It’s all curves and soft edges despite being a stark black-and-white print. She looks like she's about to float right off the paper! Curator: Indeed! Kiyonobu was a master of the *ukiyo-e* style, and this print really shows off his skills. The use of woodblock printing, especially the key-block method typical of the era, meant that the process was highly collaborative. We often overlook the crucial role of the artisans who transferred the artist's vision onto the block and then carefully printed it. Editor: Thinking about that physical process of creation...I can almost feel the artisan carefully carving away at the wood. It really makes me appreciate the time and labor invested. Curator: Exactly! And *ukiyo-e*, meaning "pictures of the floating world," originally depicted the pleasure quarters and celebrated urban life. This print would have been relatively affordable and widely distributed, showcasing not only the beauty standards of the time, but also fueling a whole economy of consumption. Editor: Consumption…it’s interesting to think of art that was so integrated into the daily lives of ordinary people. She feels very alive, very present... Do you think she knows how many eyes have met her gaze over the centuries? Does the original creator know her work is here with us? Curator: Those are beautiful questions! Analyzing the art and the methods and historical setting does connect us through shared humanity, however separated we might be by time and space. Editor: In a way, the artist and artisan become immortal through their works. Curator: Exactly! So, here we have it, art connecting artisan and the creative mind to modern eyes and souls. A good example to sum it all up!