No. 11 and No. 12, from the series Primary Education: Manners for Women, Explained in Pictures (Shōgaku joreishiki zukai) c. 1882

Editor: This is a woodblock print by Adachi Ginkō, titled *No. 11 and No. 12, from the series Primary Education: Manners for Women, Explained in Pictures*. It’s interesting how the artist depicts these idealized scenes of women's education. What stands out to you? Curator: Consider the materiality. This is not just an image, but a mass-produced print. Think about how this artwork served as a tool for disseminating specific ideals about women's roles throughout society. Editor: So, it’s less about individual artistic expression and more about the production and consumption of these ideas? Curator: Precisely. The medium itself is the message, shaping perceptions and reinforcing social norms through accessible imagery. What does that say about the labor involved? Editor: I guess that the process is a social commentary, influencing societal perceptions. Curator: Exactly. It makes you consider the impact of readily available visual media on constructing identities.