Lecture at the Meiji Meeting Hall c. 1880

Curator: Adachi Ginkō's woodblock print, "Lecture at the Meiji Meeting Hall," presents a fascinating glimpse into late 19th-century Japan. Editor: It feels surprisingly Western in its architecture, and the crowd is so densely packed, almost claustrophobic despite the grand scale. Curator: The Meiji era was a period of intense Westernization. Public lectures became important venues for disseminating new ideas. Note the clear delineation between classes with the upper balcony area. Editor: Absolutely, and it highlights the performance of knowledge itself. Who had access, who was being excluded? The sea of faces is primarily male. Curator: Ginkō's work often focused on current events, acting as a kind of visual journalism during a time of great social change. Editor: It makes you wonder about the power dynamics at play, the flow of information, and how the seeds of resistance might have been sown in such gatherings. Curator: Indeed, this work gives insight into Meiji-era society. Editor: It reminds us that even within progress, there are always marginalized voices.