Women and Male Attendant at the Shore (Enoshima?) c. 18th century

Curator: This is Torii Kiyonaga's "Women and Male Attendant at the Shore (Enoshima?)," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like a fleeting moment captured in ink and color! There's a quiet, summery languor about it all. Curator: Kiyonaga, active in the late 18th century, really captured the elegance of Edo period women. The setting, likely Enoshima, was a popular leisure spot. Note the interplay between the figures and the architecture in the background. Editor: Yes, that building in the background seems dwarfed by the mass of green forest behind it. And I like how the red robe of the running male figure mirrors the red around the seated woman. I'm curious about that attendant's towel... freshly dipped, maybe? Curator: Kiyonaga's prints often depicted idealized figures engaged in everyday activities. This print suggests the rising merchant class and their pursuit of pleasure. Editor: Well, I'm ready for a day at the beach now. This print has definitely transported me! Curator: Indeed. A reminder that leisure, then as now, is always shaped by its social context.