Session of the National Diet Possibly 1890

Curator: The overwhelming impression is one of order and formality. Editor: Indeed. This is titled "Session of the National Diet" by Yoshu Chikanobu. It's a woodblock triptych held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: It feels like a very specific assertion of power, doesn't it? So many men, predominantly wearing black, gazing forward, with a clear hierarchy established. Editor: Woodblock prints were often used to disseminate political messages, so it's crucial to consider its production and distribution. How many copies were made? Who had access? Curator: Right, we must understand the societal context. Who were the intended viewers, and what narratives were being reinforced or challenged through the depiction of this Diet session? What did it mean for women present to be set apart by their attire? Editor: Seeing the meticulous detail rendered through the woodblock process makes me consider the labor involved in its creation. Curator: Precisely, a complex interplay of power, representation, and material production all layered within this one image. Editor: A potent reminder of the multiple layers to uncover within any artifact.