Farmer and Ox c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Hiroshige's *Farmer and Ox*. It's a lovely woodblock print. The farmer looks weary but resolute. What sociopolitical narratives do you see at play here? Curator: This print, though seemingly bucolic, speaks volumes about labor and its place in Edo-period society. The farmer, rendered with such detail, becomes a symbol of the working class, their tireless efforts literally building the foundation of Japan. How does this image challenge or reinforce dominant power structures of the time? Editor: It seems to romanticize rural life while perhaps glossing over the hardships? Curator: Precisely. Consider the intended audience. Were these prints meant to uplift the farmer or were they designed for wealthier urban dwellers? How do you think class and gender may influence an interpretation of this work? Editor: That's something to consider. Thank you. Curator: Of course. It's about interrogating whose voices are amplified and whose are silenced.