Flowers c. 1861 - 1863

Editor: Here we have Koikawa Shozan’s "Flowers," a woodblock print from around 1861-1863. The soft, aged paper and delicate lines give it such an intimate feeling. What stands out to you? Curator: What I notice immediately is the relationship between text and image, and how that relationship is *made*. Think about the production of this piece. It's a print from a book - accessible, replicable. This immediately breaks down hierarchies around who consumes art and how it’s disseminated. Notice how the image provides an accessible view to the domesticity while the script beside it invites higher, sophisticated interpretations of culture. Editor: So, it’s not just the image itself, but also its mode of production and consumption that is crucial here? How does this connect to the ukiyo-e tradition it’s linked to? Curator: Exactly. Ukiyo-e, at its heart, was about mass production and consumption. Woodblock printing democratized art. Consider also the labor involved, not just Shozan's design, but the carvers, printers, and distributors, all contributing to the final product and the economy built on these works. Does that challenge your understanding of who makes “art?" Editor: Definitely. I was initially focused on the aesthetic quality, but thinking about it as a product of a whole system of labor and consumption opens up a completely new perspective. Thank you! Curator: And hopefully raises more questions than answers, doesn’t it? These objects invite inquiry into their full journey.