Procession of Women Carrying Palanquin c. 19th century

Curator: This print, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, is by Utagawa Toyohiro. Its title is "Procession of Women Carrying Palanquin." Editor: It strikes me as both intimate and strangely unsettling; the texture of the paper is so present, yet the scene depicts what seems to be a very specific, perhaps oppressive, social dynamic. Curator: Exactly, we need to consider the power dynamics at play here. The palanquin, typically associated with privilege, is notably absent. Who are these women? What is their social standing? Editor: It is the materiality of the print itself, the woodblock technique, that gives this image its power, its ability to speak of the labor involved in production. The image asks us to consider who produces art and under what conditions? Curator: Absolutely, and understanding Toyohiro's context allows us to examine broader issues of gender, class, and representation within the art of his time. Editor: I agree. Thinking about the labor involved, and then the function of the artwork, gives me a fresh perspective on its cultural place.