Osan and Mohei, from the series "True Feelings Compared: The Founts of Love" (Jitsu kurabe iro no minakami) c. 1798 - 1799

Editor: This print, "Osan and Mohei" by Kitagawa Utamaro, is from the Late Edo period. It seems to depict a very intimate scene between two figures. How do you interpret this work, especially given its title suggesting "true feelings"? Curator: This print is part of a series exploring various forms of love, but the socio-political context is key. The Edo period had strict social hierarchies and norms. Consider how this print, depicting what appears to be a clandestine meeting, challenges or reinforces societal expectations around relationships and desire. What do you think the artist might be subtly commenting on? Editor: Perhaps the artist is playing with the tension between public appearance and private reality in relationships? I hadn’t considered the social constraints of the time. Curator: Exactly. And this print, as a commodity circulated among the public, also plays a role in shaping and reflecting popular ideas about love. Editor: It's fascinating to think about how this seemingly simple image is actually embedded in such a complex web of social and political factors. Thanks for sharing that perspective! Curator: My pleasure! It shows how art both reflects and shapes its world.