Yaba Valley (Yabake) Possibly 1918

Curator: Hashiguchi Goyo's "Yaba Valley" depicts a moment in rural Japan. What strikes you first? Editor: The relentless rain, definitely. It’s an image of hardship, really, but also resilience. The figure persevering despite the weather. Who were these landscapes made for? Curator: Landscapes like this catered to the shin-hanga movement, which revived traditional ukiyo-e woodblock printing but for early 20th-century audiences, playing with themes of modernization and nostalgia. Editor: Right, and nostalgia often obscures lived experiences. This image romanticizes rural labor while perhaps ignoring the societal pressures faced by those who toiled. Curator: That's a sharp point. Consider also how the print’s distribution through art societies and exhibitions shaped perceptions of Japanese identity abroad. Editor: It raises questions about how art participates in shaping national narratives. This piece, seemingly simple, has layers of cultural politics embedded within it. Curator: Indeed. The rain, the road, the traveler—all become symbolic in ways that extend far beyond the immediate scene. Editor: Reflecting on this, I wonder what other stories are hidden beneath this veneer of picturesque scenery.