Five Nō Plays (Yōgyoku goban), 4th of 5 Volumes c. 4 - 5

Editor: This is a page from "Five Nō Plays," attributed to Hon'ami Kōetsu, from the 16th or 17th century. The brushstrokes are so delicate. What can you tell me about its creation and context? Curator: Consider the paper itself, the ink, the brush. The materials speak to a culture that valued refined tools and skilled labor. The act of writing these plays was a performance in itself, a careful dance of hand and mind. How does the materiality inform your understanding of the play’s content? Editor: I guess I hadn't thought about the labor involved in creating the paper and ink. Curator: Exactly. And how might the consumption of such an artwork have reflected social status or cultural values? It's more than just ink on paper; it's a record of production and consumption. Editor: That's fascinating. I'll never look at calligraphy the same way again.