Genietend van het avondbriesje tijdens het vuurwerk te Ryogoku Possibly 1887

Editor: So this is "Genietend van het avondbriesje tijdens het vuurwerk te Ryogoku," a woodblock print possibly from 1887 by Utagawa Kunichika, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. It's captivating, and the figures seem to really command the space of the composition. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, it is striking how Kunichika uses these elegantly posed figures of women in the foreground to frame the vibrant scene of fireworks over the Ryogoku Bridge. Thinking about the broader context, the Meiji Restoration was happening at this time. How does this print speak to a moment of social change, do you think? Consider the representation of women alongside elements of traditional culture, like the fireworks. Editor: Hmm, I hadn’t thought about that! It feels celebratory and festive, not revolutionary, but perhaps it is subtly commenting on women's roles in society amidst that transformation? Like, their gaze towards the viewer emphasizes a silent agency. Curator: Precisely. The very act of depicting women as central figures enjoying leisure, in a public space traditionally associated with masculine pursuits, subtly challenges established power structures. Also, consider the printmaking process itself. Ukiyo-e prints were mass-produced, making art accessible to a wider audience, including women. Does that further democratize representation and viewership? Editor: That's fascinating, because previously art and patronage was an aristocratic thing. This feels more communal because it brings celebration of beauty, of fleeting pleasures to a broader group of people. The production and reception mirror the scene it captures. Curator: Exactly. Seeing beyond the fireworks, we begin to see socio-political implications embedded within the celebration. Art isn't detached from life. Editor: Right! I'll never look at fireworks the same way. Thanks for opening up those contextual possibilities.