Housecleaning (Susuhaki) c. 1797 - 1799

Curator: Right now we are standing in front of Kitagawa Utamaro's "Housecleaning (Susuhaki)," a woodblock print from the Late Edo period, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s such a tender moment, isn't it? Even with the sword visible, the image feels very intimate, almost like stumbling upon a secret. Curator: The scene depicts a group of women tending to a man, perhaps a samurai, in a domestic setting. It’s interesting, this glimpse into the private lives, perhaps blurring social expectations. Editor: True, but there’s a certain formality too. The woman standing, with her hand to her chin, has such a thoughtful air. The shoji screen with the landscape offers the perfect backdrop to the moment. Curator: The screens in the background certainly set the scene. Utamaro excelled at depicting the subtleties of human emotion and social interaction, capturing the mood of the era. Editor: It makes me reflect on the roles and responsibilities of women, and how they could use those roles to influence the power dynamics of their time. Curator: Absolutely, and I find it so very captivating to see it captured with such clarity and grace, a moment frozen in time. Editor: I agree. It’s so human, so simple, and yet so very complex.