Left Sheet of a Triptych of the Echigoya on New Year's Day 

Editor: This is "Left Sheet of a Triptych of the Echigoya on New Year's Day" by Torii Kiyonaga. It’s a woodblock print. What strikes me is the emphasis on the textiles and the signage. What do you see? Curator: I see a celebration of commerce and labor. Kiyonaga highlights the Echigoya, a dry goods store, suggesting the importance of the textile industry and its workers in the Edo period. Consider the value placed on these materials and the labor involved in their production. Editor: So it’s not just a pretty picture, but a commentary on the economic engine of the time? Curator: Precisely. Kiyonaga draws our attention to the very fabric of society, quite literally. It makes you wonder about the circulation of goods and wealth represented here. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure.