Triptych: Sumidagawa watashi no zu, from the series Tōto meisho zue c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Utagawa Hiroshige's triptych, "Sumidagawa watashi no zu, from the series Tōto meisho zue," a woodblock print that captures a scene on the Sumida River. Editor: Oh, it's like a gentle, dreamlike snapshot. The colors are muted, almost pastel, and there's a real sense of peace in the composition, like a memory floating on the water. Curator: Hiroshige's work often depicted everyday life and famous places. This piece, held at the Harvard Art Museums, showcases the river as a site of leisure and transportation. Editor: I love the way the boats mirror each other across the three panels. And all those figures, each with their own story suggested by their posture and dress. It's as if we're eavesdropping on a river journey, isn't it? Curator: Yes, and consider how the printmaking process allowed these images to be widely disseminated, shaping perceptions of Edo and its culture. Editor: It makes you wonder, what were they thinking as they glided along, these ladies and children? It’s just lovely. Curator: Indeed. It provides insight into how art democratized representations of place and identity in that time. Editor: Seeing it through those eyes really gives the scene a fresh context. Thanks!