Het bezoek 1788 - 1792

Curator: Ah, there’s something so subtly captivating about this print. I am immediately drawn in. Editor: Right? I love the way the composition leads your eye gently up the stairs. It’s peaceful, like catching a glimpse of a private moment. Curator: Indeed. What we have here is a work entitled "Het bezoek", or "The Visit" by Hosoda Eishi, created sometime between 1788 and 1792. It's a beautiful example of ukiyo-e printmaking, where the artist utilized woodblocks to transfer the image onto paper. The medium is Nishiki-e woodblock print with color. Notice the choice of color and shading used throughout the artwork to create an interesting background? It's the application and placement of colour that provides depth here! Editor: Those butterfly motifs on one of the women’s kimonos are gorgeous, although it feels like it needs more drama somewhere… I’m immediately pulled in and wish I knew what they are talking about! The print really makes me wonder, what's the story there? The one figure has an enigmatic Mona Lisa vibe going on with her expression. Curator: The butterfly, of course, is quite rich in symbolism. Throughout history, the butterfly has represented metamorphosis and transformation. You see that symbolism echoed across cultures. The three figures seem poised between leaving and entering a transitional phase as well. Editor: A sort of chrysalis for people! Do you think these kinds of prints were designed to capture that everyday experience in ancient cultures? To elevate just hanging out? It reminds me a bit of Impressionism in that way. Curator: Yes, capturing "the floating world" or everyday life, was very much the point! But it also spoke to a deeper human need: To immortalize ephemeral beauty and find meaning in transient moments. And if that isn't the very purpose of the visit they depict? Editor: Makes you wonder who’s visiting whom, right? Beautifully said! Curator: It’s a journey encapsulated in a single, stunning scene. I appreciate being taken on that trip of speculation by it, that the woodcut prints allow us this opportunity.