Yūgao dana nōryō zu 1880

Curator: Ah, welcome! We are now observing "Yūgao dana nōryō zu," a woodblock print created around 1880 by the esteemed Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. Editor: I see moonlight, I see lounging... This just exudes a feeling of sultry summer leisure! It's so effortlessly casual. Is it even allowed to be this laid back? Curator: In a way, yes! The piece falls into the Ukiyo-e tradition, focusing on scenes from everyday life, popular culture and transient beauty. Here we have two people, enjoying the cool evening air under a trellis laden with gourds - yūgao, or bottle gourds, giving the work its name. The light from the full moon and its impact in society must also be considered. Editor: It feels incredibly intimate, too. Not romantic in a hearts-and-flowers sense, but in the way that shows that there is camaraderie when folks kick back from a long, humid day, right? Even the limited color palette, with those watery blues and peaches, seems to enhance the lazy feel. Curator: Indeed! Yoshitoshi's placement of text further grounds it within traditions of Japanese woodblock prints but in this case he provides an artistic interpretation. Beyond mere depiction, these were commercially circulated items—so consider the urban residents eager to consume imagery of simpler pleasures in the late 19th century, a rapidly modernizing Japan at that time. Editor: I like imagining them hanging this print up in their apartments to live through those languid summer nights vicariously. Just thinking about the sound of crickets on an oppressively warm evening, and folks are outside looking for any kind of a reprieve, even with the mosquitos feasting at night. I wonder what the artist might have said was his aim, or intention in making this piece? Curator: We can imagine that this print served multiple functions, a snapshot of social life at the time but even still, his attention to the specific details is remarkable. Each line captures a part of a cultural moment. It's a celebration of leisure, commodified. Editor: Mmh. Well put. I think I’m ready for an ice-cold drink. This print really captured something here about culture. Curator: Absolutely! Let's go grab something refreshing ourselves, now. Thanks for taking the time!