Festival banner of three warriors c. mid 20th century

Editor: Here we have Kakurō's "Festival Banner of Three Warriors," created around the mid-20th century. It’s watercolor on textile, and the texture of the fabric gives it a softer, more approachable feel than I expected for a banner depicting warriors. What draws your eye in this piece? Curator: I'm interested in how the artist utilized watercolor, a traditionally "high art" medium, on textile, which is often considered "craft." Think about the availability of materials after World War II in Japan; perhaps pre-primed canvases were harder to come by than lengths of fabric. How does the combination of material and image change the potential reception of the artwork? Editor: That’s an interesting point. I hadn't considered the material constraints. Curator: And consider the banner's function. Banners are meant to be displayed, often outdoors, exposed to the elements and wear. How does this impact our understanding of its creation and value? Was this a disposable object or something meant to be treasured? The level of detail suggests a higher value, maybe for specific festivals. Editor: So you're saying the inherent ephemerality of a banner clashes with the skilled craftsmanship on display? Curator: Exactly! And consider the labor involved in producing this. Textile production often involves communal work, yet watercolor is typically a solo endeavor. Who was involved in the banner's making, and how did their labor contribute to its meaning? It is also interesting that there are many different hands that contributed to its production, as banners usually represent the work of workshops. Editor: This makes me think about the purpose it served – maybe creating a sense of identity or community within that post-war context, something beyond purely aesthetic value. Curator: Precisely. It forces us to question the hierarchy of art versus craft and consider the social and economic forces at play in its creation. Editor: I’ll definitely be thinking differently about the choices of material from now on, especially how it intersects with its social function! Curator: It's these very tensions that make the banner so compelling and question what has been considered “art” over the centuries.