Two Girls Playing with Thread Ball c. mid 18th century

Editor: Ishikawa Toyonobu's "Two Girls Playing with Thread Ball," a mid-18th century woodblock print, really captures a sense of childlike joy. There's a definite intimacy in their shared game, and the patterns on their kimonos are mesmerizing. What stands out to you about this image? Curator: I'm drawn to the symbolic nature of the thread ball itself. Games involving string or thread often symbolized connections, both social and familial, and these could represent female bonds especially. Notice how their bodies are intertwined. Does it perhaps suggest that the game mirrors a deeper connection, maybe a shared destiny, reinforced by patterns in the art? Editor: That's a really interesting point. I hadn't considered the thread ball beyond just being a child's toy. How would this idea of "shared destiny" have resonated with viewers at the time? Curator: Ukiyo-e prints, like this one, were accessible art, depicting scenes from everyday life – but were equally potent carrier of coded messages. At the time, societal expectations for women were often intertwined with themes of connection, marriage, and continuation of family lines. These are common theme among family portraitures to convey legacy, wealth, social and political prestige. This image may be offering us insight into female bonds as vital social force. Consider the detail in the girls' kimonos versus the relatively plain background, do you think this was to make the central theme more significant? Editor: Definitely, their detailed patterns seem almost like emblems, drawing our attention to them. I guess what I’m gathering is there’s a lot more to ukiyo-e than just pretty pictures. Curator: Exactly. They’re embedded with layers of cultural meaning waiting to be unravelled. It gives a whole new dimension to something as simple as girls playing, doesn't it? Editor: It does. Now I see this print as a window into the past, and an enduring image of connectedness through shared visual themes!