Screen Making for the Year of the Rat 

Curator: Keisai Eisen's print, "Screen Making for the Year of the Rat," presents us with an intriguing glimpse into Edo-period Japan. My initial impression is one of domestic tranquility tinged with a hint of the absurd—a rat as the central figure of artistic creation! Editor: And that's precisely where its social critique emerges. The rat, often seen as vermin, is here elevated. Eisen, through this woodblock print, might be commenting on social hierarchies. Curator: I agree, and consider the symbolism of the rat itself. In Japanese folklore, the rat is associated with resourcefulness and prosperity. It is a clever survivor. Editor: The rat mirrors the rising merchant class of the period, challenging the established samurai elite. Look how it overturns tradition by becoming a high art icon! Curator: It's a powerful statement. Eisen's use of everyday imagery, the rat, transforms the very idea of what can be considered art, democratizing it. Editor: Ultimately, "Screen Making for the Year of the Rat" transcends its historical context. It compels us to re-evaluate who holds cultural power. Curator: Indeed, and to remember that art is not static, but a living, evolving dialogue reflecting the society that creates it.