Mendicant carrying a child on his back c. 18th century

Curator: Standing before us, we have a marvelous carving attributed to Yoshimura Shūzan from the 18th century. The work is titled "Mendicant carrying a child on his back", currently residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It's a wooden sculpture, seemingly small in stature. What strikes you about this piece initially? Editor: It has a rough hewn and worn affectation – like a kindly troll lumbering through a fairy tale. There's such tenderness and burden coexisting in the wood, it resonates. What sort of wood is it? Curator: Determining the precise species is difficult, but it's likely a wood indigenous to Japan, such as cypress or boxwood, prized for their fine grain and suitability for intricate carving. Editor: That makes sense – cypress is naturally oily and fragrant which aids preservation of such precious objects over long periods. Curator: Exactly! What I find fascinating is how Yoshimura has captured not just the physical act of carrying but the emotional weight. This isn’t simply a representation of labor; it's a portrait of dedication, struggle, and humanity in its most distilled form. It echoes images of the Christian Saint Christopher – another well known ‘bearer’. What resonances do you detect, given your expertise in iconography? Editor: I note particularly how the sculptor directs the line of vision toward the viewer. Despite his humble role, this figure embodies a strength rooted deep in the cultural memory – echoing, as you noted, St. Christopher as a figure of resilience across vast terrains and tumultuous times. Curator: I appreciate you calling out that cultural comparison; It encourages me to speculate. To look beyond what immediately strikes the eye. The texture and posture tell tales that a glance never could! Editor: It also begs the question of audience. Where did the piece "live"? Who beheld its message when it was crafted – a simple offering in a temple – or the possession of a merchant or notable of the era? Curator: Considering that there are few surviving pieces makes that provenance difficult to establish but those possibilities absolutely amplify our understanding of its potential social relevance. Thank you! Editor: It's an enigmatic creation that invites endless interpretation – it almost doesn't want you to settle on any fixed conclusion, so thanks for inviting me on that brief exploration!