Young Woman with Symbols of the First Dream of the New Year c. 1782

Editor: Here we have Torii Kiyonaga’s “Young Woman with Symbols of the First Dream of the New Year,” a print dating to around 1782. It feels so serene. What compositional elements strike you most when you look at this piece? Curator: Initially, the dominant verticality is quite pronounced, wouldn't you agree? Note how the artist uses this orientation to compartmentalize the composition. The figure is framed not only by architectural elements, but also by the foreground plane that contains bamboo and flowers, leading our gaze toward the middle ground featuring the water. The distant mountain seems like a finishing note to this vertical movement. Editor: Yes, the layers are so deliberate. Do the colors play a role in this structuring effect as well? Curator: Precisely. Kiyonaga orchestrates a palette of muted tones and shades of green, pink, and grey, further subdividing space and volume with the various textile patterns and landscape depictions. Consider how each choice, even seemingly incidental, informs the spatial relationships. What do you make of that interplay between line and plane? Editor: The artist is so meticulous with outlines! The outlines give shape to each color field and help distinguish it from the field beside it. Everything appears quite flat, but, taken as a whole, these small effects add depth to the composition. Curator: An astute observation! And how does this flatness enhance the semiotic language that pervades ukiyo-e art? Editor: Well, I’d not considered that, but the flattened forms are well suited to the depiction of symbols. I'm eager to learn more. Curator: This emphasis on shape, line and arrangement demonstrates a profound sense of balance.