Print 1800 - 1865

Editor: So, this woodblock print titled “Print” is from somewhere between 1800 and 1865, and it’s by Utagawa Kunisada. I’m immediately struck by the contrast – this figure standing over another has such intense emotion; it feels so dramatic, theatrical almost. What’s your take on it? Curator: Ah, Kunisada! He was such a rockstar of the ukiyo-e world, a master of capturing, as you say, the theatrical! It leaps off the paper, doesn't it? Notice how Kunisada plays with spatial relationships; there's an almost dreamlike compression. The background is flat but bursting with detail - bamboo leaves! I imagine this print being not just a scene, but almost a stage for feelings. What story do you think Kunisada might be hinting at here? Editor: It feels like a really intense moment from a play… perhaps the climax? I wonder about all the text on the standing figure’s robe… could that be a clue about the play itself? Curator: Exactly! And the lanterns flickering above, illuminating the bamboo... These are more than mere props. They’re signifiers! Consider the world this print comes from – a burgeoning merchant class, a thirst for entertainment, for stories. It’s interesting how the dramatic lighting guides our eyes to each expression of anguish! Have you ever considered print as more of an experience rather than just a visual form? Editor: That’s so true. I had considered prints to be just copies but you made it clear that prints can represent deep, complex narratives. Thank you for making me aware of how to view the piece. Curator: My pleasure. Art teaches us to really view life, not just what surrounds it, don’t you think? It’s really up to each of us to decide.