Triptych: Buyō Asukayama Shōkei 

Editor: Here we have Kitagawa Tsukimaro's "Triptych: Buyō Asukayama Shōkei" from around 1800. It looks like a woodblock print. I am fascinated by how the artist captured such detail across three panels. What do you notice about the composition? Curator: Observe how the three panels each contain a set of figures, yet the landscape flows continuously, creating a unified plane. The careful arrangement of colors, especially the contrast between the dark robes and the lighter cherry blossoms, structures our gaze. Note too the flatness of the picture plane, a deliberate choice emphasizing the materiality of the print. Editor: It is almost as if he wanted to play with the visual depth. Curator: Precisely. The artist prioritizes the interplay of line and color over realistic representation, inviting a formal reading. Did you notice the consistent angles of the figures’ bodies? Editor: Yes, the repetition almost creates a rhythm across the panels. I now see how each element contributes to the overall structure. Thanks for this new perspective!