Veerboten op de Sumida rivier 1843 - 1844

Editor: We're looking at "Veerboten op de Sumida rivier" or "Ferry Boats on the Sumida River" by Utagawa Hiroshige, from around 1843-1844. It's a woodblock print and part of the Rijksmuseum collection. It has a breezy and calm disposition. What captures your attention most when you view this triptych? Curator: The enduring symbolic power of water. Sumida River is rendered here as a vital artery of Edo-period life. Notice how the river isn’t merely a backdrop, but a stage upon which human dramas – social interactions, travel, trade – unfold. These ferry boats are conveying not just people, but also ideas and cultural exchange. It’s about how bodies of water also imply a collective memory, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely, it shows the social nature of travel then. The way people gathered. Does anything about the symbolism of the natural landscape stand out to you? Curator: Consider the significance of birds in flight, appearing in each panel of the triptych, almost like signatures. Traditionally, birds are symbols of freedom and travel. But I see something deeper - a sense of aspiration and even the transient nature of life itself. Are these migrants who will return, or journey on further to who knows where? Hiroshige may subtly encourage us to consider what binds us and what compels us to move on, from place to place, stage to stage. Editor: That's a fantastic point. So, these seemingly simple scenes encapsulate a rich narrative of daily life intertwined with a broader human condition. Curator: Precisely. The imagery encourages reflection on our continuous negotiation with movement, stasis, memory, and aspiration. A simple boat ride then becomes an inquiry into ourselves. Editor: I learned so much! I will look for birds in art in future to get to the meaning behind their imagery. Curator: An awareness of these codes unlocks a deeper connection with art across cultures and time. Now, what about the fashion...