Three Women Gathering Clams at Enoshima, with poems by Bunsōsai Matsutoshi (Shōnen), Fumimado Takeo, and Bunsōan Hirotaka (Kōyō) c. early 1830s

Curator: This woodblock print, "Three Women Gathering Clams at Enoshima," captures a scene of women at work, their figures juxtaposed against the iconic Mount Fuji. Katsushika Taito II is the artist. Editor: The image evokes a sense of resilience to me, a visual reminder of labor performed, but I’m also struck by the poems inscribed above - do they speak to the women's experiences? Curator: Yes, the poems function as an integral part of the artwork, offering commentary and reflecting on the transient nature of beauty and the everyday. The women's work is grounded in nature, while the poems elevate their lived experiences. Editor: It humanizes their struggle, placing them in a historical narrative that celebrates their efforts and gives voice to the reality of women’s labor. Curator: Absolutely. The print reminds us to see beyond the surface, to find meaning in the symbols embedded within the cultural landscape. Editor: And to recognize the voices of those whose stories are so often marginalized or erased from the historical record.