Ashinoyu Spring in Hakone 1769 - 1789

Curator: Looking at "Ashinoyu Spring in Hakone" by Torii Kiyonaga, made sometime between 1769 and 1789. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My initial impression is serenity. There's something profoundly calming about the composition. The pale colors and flowing lines suggest a moment of tranquil retreat. Curator: Absolutely, Kiyonaga's process, using woodblock printmaking, allowed for the replication of these themes for a broader audience. Ukiyo-e prints often highlighted popular entertainments and leisure activities of the Edo period, including visiting onsen, or hot springs like the one depicted here. The material itself—the wood, the inks—connects directly to that cultural moment. Editor: Beyond leisure, water holds significant symbolic weight in Japanese culture, representing purity, renewal, and the ephemeral nature of life. The women emerging from the baths almost seem reborn. There is a cultural ritual here; their placement under the moon adds to this feeling of connection to time and the cosmos. Curator: Precisely! The carefully considered layout, the deliberate choice of materials—all speak to the economics of the time as well, shaping how these images were circulated and consumed. We might note how the lines create their forms in totality: that’s craft, skill, and then commerce, really, converging. Editor: And yet, each gesture, the adjusting of hair, the wrapping of fabric, speaks volumes about the symbolism of femininity and beauty. It captures not just a place, but the inner world of these women. I find myself considering the image as a snapshot into private rituals made visible. Curator: I’m inclined to agree. While its process democratized imagery, allowing many to purchase prints like this, the images depicted told tales accessible to even more. These leisure habits, while once exclusive, become ever accessible thanks to Kiyonaga. Editor: Indeed. Examining its visual language has only deepened my understanding of this captivating scene. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Exploring production helps frame what’s on offer within it.