Beating the Second Wife According to the Old Custom c. 1852

Editor: This print by Utagawa Hiroshige, titled "Beating the Second Wife According to the Old Custom," is filled with chaotic energy. Women are brandishing objects, their faces contorted. What’s the story behind this scene? Curator: It's a fascinating depiction of social dynamics. Hiroshige presents what was supposedly an accepted, even ritualized, form of violence within a household. Consider the title – it frames the abuse as 'customary.' Editor: So, it's commenting on the acceptance of such violence in society? Curator: Precisely. The print’s very existence within the art world raises questions. Was it intended as a critique, or a perpetuation, of this 'old custom'? Where does the artist's role fall within the politics of imagery? Editor: I never considered the artist's position like that. It gives me a lot to reflect on. Curator: Indeed. It's a stark reminder that art isn't created in a vacuum, but reflects and shapes social realities.