Vrouw schrijft een brief c. 1890 - 1900

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to “Vrouw schrijft een brief,” or “Woman Writing a Letter,” a colorful woodblock print from around 1890-1900 now held in the Rijksmuseum collection. It’s signed by Totoya Hokkei. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: Melancholy, almost hushed. The woman's profile is so still. I immediately wonder about the contents of her letter... or the writer, or recipient. Curator: Well, that’s part of the appeal of ukiyo-e, these genre scenes often offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of people. Notice the objects arranged around her: a container with bamboo shoots at her feet, another tub with a sprig sprouting upwards, the details in her clothing and the meticulously rendered script on the backdrop… Editor: The sprig has personality; there’s a liveliness about it—while her gaze is cast downward and withdrawn. It makes me wonder, is she present in her surroundings? Curator: Yes, and note the carefully chosen garments. Her robe features stylized bamboo leaves, symbolizing resilience and flexibility. It hints at an inner strength despite the air of pensiveness. The inclusion of these details speaks to the complex iconography embedded within these seemingly simple scenes. It isn't just a snapshot; it's layered with cultural meaning. Editor: I think so too. But consider also that moment of letter-writing. A quiet, private act charged with potential emotion—love, longing, perhaps even loss. Regardless of whether there's codified cultural messaging or symbols involved, it is easy to access. And the woman’s world—a collection of symbols rendered with skill—comes together. What feelings they evoke… Curator: Exactly, Hokkei invites us to consider not just what we see, but what we feel. It makes me think about cultural memory: how artists embed universal feelings into visual language to keep the images alive. Editor: Absolutely, so alive. I think I could just get lost in this little vignette! I'm curious now about those sprigs as well… Curator: Indeed, art's allure—and Hokkei's mastery!