Woman with Drum: from Hisagataya Club Series of Five Musical Instruments c. 1827 - 1829

Editor: Here we have Yashima Gakutei's "Woman with Drum," part of the Hisagataya Club Series. It's a vibrant woodblock print. The details in the kimono are striking. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Consider the labor involved. Each color requires a separate block. The print wasn't just made; it was produced, hinting at a collaborative process within a specific economy and social structure. How do you think this affects its meaning? Editor: So, it's less about the individual artist's vision and more about the context of its creation? I never thought of it that way. Curator: Precisely. We can see the print as a material object, shaped by the conditions of its production and consumption within the pleasure quarters of Edo period Japan. This has changed my perception. Thank you.