Warrior Carrying Court Lady and Warrior with Torch/ Tale of Ise (Ise monogatari), from the series Ten Romances for the Honchō Circle (Honchōren monogatari jÅ«ban), with poems by Kanenoya Arizumi and an associate c. 1819

Curator: This print by Yashima Gakutei, an ukiyo-e artist who lived from 1786 to 1868, is called "Warrior Carrying Court Lady and Warrior with Torch/ Tale of Ise" and is part of the series Ten Romances for the Honcho Circle. Editor: It’s striking how the textures of the warriors' armor contrast with the ethereal quality of the court lady they carry. You can almost feel the weight of their garments against her lightness. Curator: The Tale of Ise itself explores themes of love, desire, and societal expectations, and Gakutei's print adds another layer. What does it mean to portray these figures in this way? What statements is being made about masculinity and power? Editor: Right, and the materials used in this woodblock print, the ink and paper, and the labor that went into carving the blocks, speak to a wider cultural context. The multiple impressions required to create such a detailed image. Curator: Indeed, viewing the print today at the Harvard Art Museums invites us to consider intersectional narratives. Editor: It certainly does. A reminder of the stories embedded in objects and the processes that bring them to life.