The Four Accomplishments [right of a pair] c. 19th century

Editor: So, here we have the right side of a pair of paintings, *The Four Accomplishments*, painted with tempera in the 19th century by Shibata Zeshin. The array of figures in such vivid colors against the gold leaf backdrop creates this lively yet peaceful aura… What story do you think Zeshin is trying to tell? Curator: Ah, Zeshin. He pulls you in, doesn't he? I imagine him chuckling to himself as he composed this. To me, this panel whispers of an ideal. We see women engaged in traditional pastimes - music, literature, painting, maybe even the tea ceremony hinted at by the little cups. "The Four Accomplishments" implies an elevated state of being, a cultivated life deemed worthy during the Edo period, but the painting winks. Look closer. Editor: I see what you mean, that one woman seems more interested in people-watching than playing the instrument, and is that a child causing a ruckus by that folding screen? Curator: Exactly! Zeshin knows the ideal and the real are often… well, miles apart. This piece balances formality and levity beautifully. The shimmering gold reminds you that this is a luxury object. Editor: I guess it challenges us to really consider these traditional activities as being more than just art forms. Curator: They’re expressions of humanity, and humanity is delightfully messy. Even at its most refined, right? Imagine, though, being the artist and knowing what this all means in that historical moment! It's food for thought isn't it? What has stood out most for you? Editor: Definitely the dichotomy – the tension between this ideal of scholarly leisure and, as you said, the delightful messiness of life actually unfolding! Curator: Precisely! And now that messiness feels quite beautiful, perhaps. We each see what we need in these little snapshots, after all.