Picture Book of Gold Brocades (Ehon kokinran 絵本古錦蘭) : [volume 1] 1763

Curator: This is a page from "Picture Book of Gold Brocades," or "Ehon kokinran," a work created around 1763 by the celebrated ukiyo-e artist Suzuki Harunobu. It’s a woodblock print, rendered in ink on paper. Editor: Immediately, the intimacy strikes me. It’s monochrome, simple in its lines, but conveys a gentle scene of leisure, a space held by women, seemingly engaged with literature and artistic pursuits. Curator: Absolutely. Harunobu's work is incredibly important in understanding the cultural milieu of 18th-century Edo period Japan. The “Picture Book of Gold Brocades,” although titled with luxury, often depicted the daily lives of ordinary people. Editor: These are, essentially, genre scenes presented with a touch of idealized beauty, and perhaps a commentary on the roles of women in that society. Are we looking at the suggestion of their roles and opportunities through artistic and intellectual engagement? Curator: That’s certainly part of the conversation we can have. Harunobu was working during a time of increased consumer culture, and prints like these, disseminated widely, played a huge role in shaping aesthetic trends and social perceptions of feminine beauty and grace. Editor: It's compelling to consider the democratization of art enabled by these prints and how women consumed and participated in such visual culture. It feels almost radical in its depiction of women in control of their leisure and education. Curator: Radical in a way that spoke subtly within accepted social frameworks. His style, characterized by delicate lines and soft colors in his full color prints - remember, this one is just black ink - focused on depicting beauty and everyday life, often tinged with a nostalgic view of the past and a commentary on the present. Editor: I agree. I think framing this work through the lens of performative identity can be so fascinating – almost considering the women presented are posing for some kind of imagined gaze, both internally, and projected outwards. There's such control and quiet confidence within the depiction. Curator: I think the most profound thing here for me is the ability to touch across so much of history, society, gender and artistry. Editor: Agreed! It’s a very still moment which resonates loudly with all of our conversations today.