Round Five, Left Side (Rokuban, hidari): Samurai and Boy Beside Battle of Yashima Screen (Genpei) from the series Contest of Fowls (Tori-awase) c. 1825 - 1828

Curator: Here we have Utagawa Kunisada’s “Round Five, Left Side (Rokuban, hidari): Samurai and Boy Beside Battle of Yashima Screen (Genpei) from the series Contest of Fowls (Tori-awase).” Editor: It feels like a moment frozen in time, doesn’t it? A samurai with his attendant observing a battle scene depicted on a screen. There's this strange mix of tension and quiet contemplation. Curator: Indeed. Kunisada, working in the Edo period, often used his art to explore themes of conflict, power, and social dynamics, placing them within frameworks of historical narrative. Editor: The screen depicting the Battle of Yashima, a famous event from the Genpei War, really highlights the themes of loyalty and honor, doesn’t it? And the contrast with the serene figures in the foreground creates a kind of dialogue across time. Curator: Absolutely. It is a visual commentary on the enduring impact of historical events and their shaping of societal structures and individual identities. Editor: It makes you wonder what they’re really thinking as they watch that battle unfold, doesn’t it? Curator: It invites us to consider the samurai class and its role within a rigid social system. Editor: A vivid slice of history and a reflection on how conflict echoes through generations. Curator: Precisely; Kunisada allows us to contemplate the complexities of legacy.