Landscape (right screen) c. early to mid 18th century

Editor: This is Watanabe Shiko's "Landscape," painted on a six-panel screen. The muted gold and brown tones create a sense of tranquility. What can you tell me about the cultural significance of landscape painting during this period? Curator: These screens functioned within a complex social setting. Consider how folding screens like this were not just decorative, but also status symbols in elite households. The imagery, often landscapes or scenes from classical literature, reinforced cultural values and the patron's sophistication. How might the depiction of nature reflect socio-political ideals of the time? Editor: So, the landscape isn't just a pretty picture, it's communicating power and taste? Curator: Precisely. And the act of displaying such an artwork served a public function, shaping perceptions and reinforcing social hierarchies. These objects were tools, weren’t they? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Now I see the landscape as a statement.