Pagode en regenboog 1900 - 1910

Curator: Right now we're looking at "Pagode en regenboog", which translates to Pagoda in Rainbow. This print by Ohara Koson, from sometime between 1900 and 1910, is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Wow, it feels like a whispered secret. Like I’ve stumbled upon something ancient and peaceful, hidden away in the mist. Curator: The use of muted tones creates that effect. The image comes to us through the lens of Ukiyo-e and Orientalism, which situate this print within broader trends in art history where the gaze of the artist towards the East produced cultural meaning that we can continue to explore today. What are your thoughts on this relationship, Editor? Editor: I see the scene as calming, really. The muted blues and grays create a gentle feeling of mist, but the splash of the rainbow sort of pokes through the haze as this magical little interruption. Like a reminder that even on cloudy days, you know, there’s still wonder. Curator: Indeed. The cityscape is presented through a visual language using woodblock printmaking techniques common in Japanese prints. What is interesting is that Koson was exploring both traditional Japanese themes as well as what Western audiences would have liked to purchase, demonstrating the intersection of artistic vision and the commercial pressures on artists at this time. Editor: You're right. When you see the rainbow against those grays, I also feel hope poking through. A sign that even when things feel a little dull, maybe the colors are about to burst through. The birds flying, too, add this sense of simple joy to what could otherwise be an overly quiet image. Curator: Ultimately, this work asks us to reflect on themes of cultural exchange, artistic innovation, and how personal expression can be both free and determined by history. Editor: For me, this is all about capturing the ephemeral beauty of an everyday scene. I'd hang this print above my desk, for sure. It gives me a light lift.