Illustrated Book on Annual Events in the Gay Quarters (Seirō ehon nenjÅ« gyōji) in 2 volumes, designed with Jippensha Ikku (1775-1831) Possibly 1804

Curator: Here we see an opened book, revealing two pages of a color woodblock print titled "Illustrated Book on Annual Events in the Gay Quarters," created in the late Edo period. It’s attributed to Kitagawa Utamaro, with designs by Jippensha Ikku. Editor: The lanterns immediately strike me. Each one feels like a little world, hinting at hidden celebrations and intimate moments. Curator: These lanterns, symbols of festivals and gatherings, illuminate the pleasure quarters. They suggest a world of entertainment and artistry, but also of social hierarchy. Note how the central figure seems to orchestrate the event. Editor: Yes, and the repetition of faces, the way they’re framed by the lanterns, feels very deliberate. It evokes a sense of collective identity, but also a kind of anonymity within the bustling Yoshiwara district. Curator: Indeed, Utamaro's masterful use of line and color not only captures the fashion of the period, but also subtly reflects the complex social dynamics at play. Editor: It makes you wonder about the stories these women could tell, both joyful and perhaps tinged with melancholy.