(Cooling on the Kamo riverbank) c. 1830 - 1844

Curator: Rokei's "(Cooling on the Kamo riverbank)," a color-on-paper woodblock print created sometime between 1830 and 1844, depicts a lively scene in what is now Kyoto, Japan. Editor: It feels incredibly fragile and immediate, like catching a glimpse of a fleeting moment in time. The delicate lines and washed-out colors create this soft, almost dreamlike atmosphere. I see groups of people and lanterns! Curator: Precisely. It exemplifies ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world," reflecting the era’s focus on ephemeral pleasures. We see figures gathered along the Kamo River, enjoying the evening breeze. This print would have circulated widely, reinforcing a shared cultural experience for its viewers. Editor: But what were these 'ephemeral pleasures', really? The gathering of people… the literal floating lanterns. I wonder about who gets access to this 'floating world'. Were all strata of society welcome to these riverbanks? And what of those whose labour underpinned the leisure? Curator: It's an excellent point. While ukiyo-e often presented an image of universal access to pleasure, in reality, access was stratified along socio-economic lines. Certain sections of the populace would have found it difficult to benefit from a "day off" on the riverbank. Editor: Exactly! This image might present the illusion of harmonious society but understanding its production, circulation, and consumption, reveals the embedded societal complexities of the era. Who produced it and how, who could see it, who could participate in the activity represented? That changes everything. Curator: Indeed. Reflecting on the consumption of the artwork itself and its contents—its audience then, its viewers now, enables these pieces to continuously prompt conversation. Thank you. Editor: And thank you. It’s a crucial reminder to constantly re-evaluate our gaze and its historical context.