De warme bronnen van Shuzenji 1937

Editor: So, this woodblock print from 1937 is titled *The Warm Springs of Shuzenji*, by Kasamatsu Shirō, currently at the Rijksmuseum. The delicate lines and soft hues give it a dreamlike quality, almost as if you're viewing a memory. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: What I find particularly compelling is how this print encapsulates the tension between tradition and modernity that defined Japan in the pre-war period. It's ostensibly a tranquil landscape, fitting within the *ukiyo-e* tradition, yet there’s a subtle commentary on the rapidly changing social landscape. Editor: Can you elaborate? I am intrigued. Curator: Consider the location: Shuzenji was known for its hot springs, places of leisure but also of healing and social interaction. Now, factor in the date, 1937. Japan was deep into its militarization, expanding its empire, which placed incredible pressure on citizens along gender and class lines. Aren’t the warmly lit windows contrasting with the cool palette almost a quiet act of resistance? A gentle refusal to forget about the beauty of daily life, even as the world was on the brink? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. So the choice to depict this serene scene, at this moment in history, becomes a statement? Curator: Precisely. The blooming cherry blossoms, traditionally symbols of ephemeral beauty and renewal, could also represent a yearning for a return to peace. And how might we view that building? Is it simply a part of the landscape or also an enclave protecting private lives? It invites us to consider what it meant to seek refuge and find solace in a society rapidly transforming due to its growing militarism. Editor: Wow. I saw a pretty landscape. Now I see layers of social and political meaning. Thank you for opening my eyes! Curator: Art allows for endless exploration and evolving comprehension; this dialogue has expanded my insight, too!