Vagina`s bekijken c. 1870 - 1880

Curator: My first reaction is surprise at the starkness of the depiction. Is this how female bodies were really being observed in c. 1870-1880 Japan? Editor: Today we're examining a drawing by Kawanabe Kyōsai, titled "Vagina's bekijken", created with ink. It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Curator: It certainly confronts the viewer directly, doesn't it? There's no attempt to idealize or aestheticize the female form here. It seems almost clinical, if not for the setting with women in the background writing and enjoying each other. Editor: Kyosai's work frequently challenged social norms, and this piece fits squarely within the history of subversive artwork. He was known for using his art as social commentary, criticizing everything from political corruption to the hypocrisy of societal expectations. Erotic art during the Edo and Meiji periods provided a fascinating counterpoint to the rigid social structure. Curator: Absolutely. But there is also an objectification of the depicted women; an artist gazing onto a scene as an exhibition in front of them is difficult for modern feminist theory to ignore. Is it liberating to depict female bodies unabashedly? Or is it contributing to a harmful, fetishizing male gaze? Editor: The history of Ukiyo-e prints provides a lens. The format provided a platform to disseminate ideas widely and affordably, creating possibilities for artists and patrons. Think about the culture it speaks to. The women writing could very well be recording the very interaction in front of them. Curator: I suppose looking back now we see that ambiguity is part of its power. This piece invites conversation about body image, sexuality, and representation, even as it may disturb some contemporary sensitivities. And I’d imagine that in its own time, it also challenged people’s perceptions of art and its role in society. Editor: I'll add that art from any era inevitably becomes a document of not only itself but of us, the audience interpreting it across generations. Curator: So in reflecting on "Vagina's bekijken" it makes you think about both where we've come from and how far we have yet to go.