Saddle and Ladle 1834

Editor: This is "Saddle and Ladle," a woodblock print created in 1834 by Utagawa Kunisada, currently held in the Rijksmuseum. It features what looks like a saddle balanced on tree branches next to what appears to be a ladle or mallet. It's so strange, almost playful! What do you see in this piece? Art Historian: My attention is drawn to how this print reframes objects of status and utility. We have the saddle, suggesting wealth and power associated with the samurai class, juxtaposed with everyday objects and nature. Considering the period, the late Edo period, do you think this placement challenges or reinforces societal hierarchies? Editor: That’s interesting… I guess I hadn’t thought about it like that. It almost feels satirical? Art Historian: Exactly! Kunisada often incorporated social commentary into his work, which, being made accessible through print, engaged a broader audience in dialogue. Do you see anything that suggests a specific audience or message within the broader social context? Editor: Well, the details are quite refined for what appears like just everyday items.. perhaps elevating them to equal importance with more valued materials? Art Historian: Precisely. Kunisada encourages us to examine the inherent values within each other's everyday experiences by creating parity between them and other societal classes. Maybe his intention was to provide everyone a vehicle for dialogue, even if not readily available during that period? Editor: I see now. It makes the piece much more interesting and complex than I originally thought. Thank you! Art Historian: My pleasure. Considering the social environment within artwork broadens their original messages. Now, how do you consider this artwork to represent the Japanese societal classes?