-Her Portrait- 1919

Editor: So, this is -Her Portrait- by Takehisa Yumeji, made in 1919. It’s a color lithograph, and what strikes me is how the artist combines delicate lines with a kind of poster-like boldness. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: I am intrigued by the work's materiality, especially its lithographic process, revealing the artist's labor and challenging distinctions between mass production and fine art. It also presents itself as an artifact of cultural consumption. Do you notice the specific choice of colors? Editor: They’re very muted, almost faded. There’s a pale green, red hair, some reddish-brown fruits, and black ink outlines. Is it common for Japanese lithographs from this time to have this specific color palette? Curator: Beyond the aesthetic qualities of color, its historical availability and expense influence its usage. Highlighting the labor involved, color lithography was intricate, requiring separate stones for each color. This makes me wonder, who was the audience and what level of affordability was associated with these color prints at the time? Editor: So you’re thinking about how the image functioned within society, as both an artwork and a commodity? I didn't consider the practical aspects. Curator: Precisely. How does examining the materiality and accessibility shift our understanding of its cultural significance? Could this have been for mass consumption, therefore affecting the artistry? Editor: I guess focusing on the material aspects of art like this opens up a lot of avenues for understanding the economic and social context. I can't look at art the same way anymore! Curator: Agreed! Materiality encourages critical investigation, allowing us to understand art in different meaningful and informative contexts.