Illustrated Book of Professions with Kyōka (Kyōka Yamato jinbutsu), 5th of 7 Volumes Possibly 1857

Curator: This is a page from "Illustrated Book of Professions with Kyōka," one of seven volumes by Utagawa Hiroshige. It’s part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My initial reaction is the quietude. Despite depicting labor, it feels contemplative, almost like a still life. Curator: Note how Hiroshige juxtaposes the figures toiling in what seems to be a watery landscape against the solitary man engaged in a delicate craft. Editor: He seems to be working on calligraphy or perhaps applying lacquer. It’s interesting that both are creative acts, yet one is clearly more valued, given the setting. The other page looks like someone is struggling with the land and has to carry it all on their back. Curator: The symbolism is potent. The figures on the left labor to sustain, while the lone artisan on the right cultivates culture. Editor: It makes you wonder about how society chooses what to value, and who bears the weight of those choices, literally and figuratively. Curator: Indeed. It reminds us that even in the everyday, there's a profound story being told, encoded in these images. Editor: Thanks to Hiroshige, those stories can speak to us across the centuries.