Pleasure Barge with Laborers on Roof c. 19th century

Curator: Utagawa Yoshikazu's woodblock print, "Pleasure Barge with Laborers on Roof," presents a fascinating slice of 19th-century life. Editor: The composition is striking – the laborers on the roof almost seem disconnected from the revelry below, it's quite odd. Curator: The figures above offer a counterpoint to the opulence below, highlighting class divisions of the Edo period. The laborers are rendered with a distinct physicality and near-nudity, emphasizing their working-class status. Editor: The roofers could be symbolic of burdens, both literally and metaphorically. The tiled roof, a common protective structure, becomes a site of labor and perhaps social commentary. Curator: The image of labor, contrasted with leisure, speaks to themes of exploitation and visibility within the floating pleasure palaces and their intricate social dynamics. Editor: Ultimately, it's a tableau of society itself, all contained within this single vessel. Curator: Indeed, Yoshikazu offers an intersectional view of labor, gender, and social class within the pleasure industry.