Onna San no Miya (the Third Princess) 1700 - 1868

Curator: Here we have "Onna San no Miya," a print by Suzuki Harunobu, dating from around 1700 to 1868. Editor: It has a somber, introspective mood, doesn't it? The colors are muted, almost faded, adding to that feeling. And she's walking with such an intriguing object. Curator: Indeed. What strikes me are the layered fabrics of her kimono – consider the immense skill required to create such detail through woodblock printing. Also the interesting form that her small carriage is adorned with... almost sheep-like. Editor: Layered fabrics speak to status, of course, but for me, it's that downward gaze, her slightly stooped posture—it reads as a visual signifier of sadness or perhaps melancholy. The print style of Ukiyo-e itself is known for conveying certain themes. Curator: I agree. Though consider how the materials available would affect the colors. Natural pigments and dyes in Japan would have been crucial to achieving such subtly varied effects in this piece, don't you think? This level of detailed woodblock requires multiple blocks, precisely carved and aligned to create a single image! It speaks to craft, production. Editor: Absolutely. Yet within that production lies intention. A third princess as a symbol might reference status, innocence, or even imposed obedience. What meaning might a patron derive from such imagery at this moment in Japan's evolution of feudal society and the new freedoms arising from it? Curator: I can only agree: to possess a print like this, showcasing meticulous handcraft in every aspect, wasn't just about the image itself but also about access and patronage in a changing economy. It reflects a changing material landscape, and it is a cultural artifact! Editor: Ultimately, the confluence of all the signs, those details, draws us in. Curator: To recognize and perhaps reflect on fleeting emotional states of a noblewoman is worth consideration in our fast paced culture. Editor: And on that point, a culture that remains linked across centuries. Thanks for this material context.