School for Spooks (Bakebake gakkō), No. 3 from the series Drawings for Pleasure by Kyōsai (Kyōsai rakuga, dai san gō) Possibly 1874 - 1877

Curator: Oh, my! What a delightful explosion of ghoulish glee! It feels like a fever dream after too much sake. Editor: Indeed. This is "School for Spooks" from Kawanabe Kyōsai's series "Drawings for Pleasure." Kyōsai, born in 1831, was a master of satirizing social norms through his art. The print belongs to the Harvard Art Museums collection. Curator: A classroom of yokai! I love the mix of horror and humor. Are they learning to haunt more effectively, perhaps? I can almost hear their cacophonous laughter. Editor: Possibly. Kyōsai often used ghosts and demons to critique contemporary society. The rigid school setting, juxtaposed with unruly monsters, hints at the absurdity of forcing conformity. Curator: It resonates even today, doesn't it? The eternal struggle between chaos and order, beautifully rendered with such vibrant colors and intricate details. It tickles my brain and my funny bone! Editor: Absolutely. Kyōsai’s vision provides a timeless commentary on social structures. It’s fascinating to consider how he used these supernatural figures to both entertain and provoke thought.