Parody of the YÅ«gao Chapter of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. 1766

Editor: This woodblock print, "Parody of the YÅ«gao Chapter of the Tale of Genji" by Suzuki Harunobu, is striking. I'm curious about the materials and how they were used to create such detail. How should we interpret this work through a materialist lens? Curator: Notice how the woodblock printing process, a form of mass production, democratized art consumption. Consider, too, the labor involved. What social dynamics are reflected in the choices of subject matter, and how does it engage with high art traditions? Editor: It's fascinating to think about art consumption at the time, and also how that relates to the labor of creating it. Curator: Precisely. By analyzing the materials and the means of production, we uncover the work's engagement within the broader social fabric of its time.