Catching the Ferry c. mid to late 18th century

Curator: Look at this intriguing ink-on-paper work, "Catching the Ferry," by Kō Sūkoku, a Japanese artist who lived from 1730 to 1804. Editor: It evokes such a serene, almost melancholic feeling. The soft gradations of ink wash give it a dreamlike quality. Curator: Absolutely, and consider the ferry itself. Ferries have long held symbolic weight in Japanese culture, representing transitions, journeys, and the crossing of boundaries, both physical and metaphorical. Editor: It makes me think about marginalized communities' reliance on public transit. There's something about the shared journey, the collective experience of moving from one place to another, that speaks to social inequalities. Curator: I agree, and the almost monochromatic palette adds to the sense of timelessness. It’s as though Sūkoku is inviting us to reflect on the enduring human experience of travel and transition. Editor: Indeed, even the landscape seems to hold its breath, poised between departure and arrival. It's a quiet commentary on the continuous movement of people and the stories they carry.