Boaters Watching a Fight 

Editor: This is "Boaters Watching a Fight" by Utagawa Toyohiro, a Japanese woodblock print. The women’s garments are really striking. What can we infer from the detailed rendering of clothing? Curator: Think about the production of these clothes: the dyeing, weaving, and embroidery. The artist meticulously depicts textiles, a commodity signifying wealth and status in Edo society. The print itself is a product, consumed by a specific audience. Editor: So, the print is not just depicting a scene, but also participating in the economy of its time? Curator: Precisely! The labor involved in creating the print and the luxurious clothing within it highlights the complex relationship between art, craft, and commerce. We learn about the social structure through the print's materiality. Editor: That’s a great way to look at it; I never considered the print as a commodity in itself.