Shamisen Instructor c. 1775 - 1777

Editor: This is Isoda Koryūsai's "Shamisen Instructor," created around 1775-1777. It's an ukiyo-e print made with ink and color on paper. The intimate scene strikes me, the intertwined figures creating a rather sensual composition. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: Well, it's fascinating to consider the material production and consumption this print embodies. Ukiyo-e, "pictures of the floating world," were products of a burgeoning merchant class in Edo-period Japan, utilizing a woodblock printing process with a division of labor – artist, carver, printer, publisher. Who benefits from these divisions? Editor: That's interesting; I hadn’t considered the labor involved so closely. What kind of implications do those roles entail? Curator: Exactly! We must consider the implications. These prints, widely distributed, reflect and arguably shape social desires and norms. "Erotic art" is certainly on view. But whose desires are being represented? Is it aimed towards a male or female consumer, or is there something for everyone here? Is this object purely entertainment or are there complex social implications present? Editor: I suppose I had naively overlooked that economic layer, but now I wonder about the social dynamics and the labor connected to these pieces and the patrons and audience who sustained the genre. Curator: Indeed, and consider the materiality itself. The choice of wood, the inks, the paper – all point to networks of trade, production, and consumption, shaping what we can experience as viewers of ukiyo-e. Editor: Thank you for highlighting these material aspects. I will remember this analysis the next time I look at artworks! Curator: The means of production can’t be overlooked. Examining those elements always creates a better viewing experience.