Twee vrouwen en een jongetje op de kade bij een rivier. c. 1785

Curator: Here we have a woodblock print entitled "Twee vrouwen en een jongetje op de kade bij een rivier," which translates to "Two women and a boy on the quay by a river," created around 1785 by Katsukawa Shunchō. It's a lovely example of ukiyo-e art. Editor: It has a really interesting composition! I'm immediately drawn to the textured surface of the print and how the figures are positioned. It looks almost like they are pausing mid-stride. Curator: Exactly. The artist carefully portrays class and gender expectations through clothing and action. The women’s elaborate kimonos indicate their social standing, whilst the young servant carries their belongings. We need to consider this snapshot within the social hierarchies of Edo period Japan. Editor: Absolutely. And what about the act of woodblock printing itself? These weren’t individual artworks, they were part of a production process, relying on labor, distribution. The availability of these kinds of prints tells us a lot about the growing merchant class and its consumer culture. Curator: Indeed. We also need to view the gaze directed to the women; they almost stand at the intersection of public and private life. How is the female experience depicted, constructed and perceived in Japanese art? What impact do the popular portrayals of femininity and beauty, like the figures depicted in this work, have? Editor: Focusing on production, how does the process affect the final result? I'm struck by the layering of the blocks – how the artist utilizes subtle shifts in colour to bring dimensionality to an essentially flat picture. What does it mean to create such evocative detail in a medium designed for mass-consumption? Curator: This image provides a glimpse into Edo society, which goes beyond what might be caught at first glance. When we analyse the social relations and power dynamics at play within ukiyo-e art we come closer to unveiling this portrait. Editor: By focusing on labor and materials we bring it into sharper focus.