Hashiba Ferry on the Sumida River (Sumidagawa Hashiba no watashi), from the series Famous Places in the Eastern Capital (Tōto meisho) 

Curator: This is Utagawa Hiroshige's "Hashiba Ferry on the Sumida River," part of his series "Famous Places in the Eastern Capital." Notice the prominence of the boats and their human cargo. Editor: There's a quiet, almost melancholic feel to it, with those long boats gliding across the water. The texture seems very tactile. Curator: Indeed. Hiroshige was a master of woodblock printing. The layering of colors and the carving of the blocks created depth and captured the essence of daily life in Edo. Editor: This piece really highlights the Sumida River's importance as a transport route. The labor involved in ferrying people, goods, and even ideas across the river is central here. Curator: Absolutely. The image serves as a visual record of the city's infrastructure and the social interactions taking place within it. The river was essential to the city's economic and social life. Editor: Considering the materials and the context, I can see how prints like this made art accessible, reflecting and shaping popular culture. Curator: Precisely. It speaks to the democratization of art through printmaking, showing us the cultural landscape of old Tokyo.