The "Tale of Genji" (Genji monogatari) in Ten Volumes (JÅ«jo Genji), vol. 3 Possibly 1661

Curator: Ryūho Nonoguchi's woodblock print from the Tale of Genji series is before us today. What strikes me first is the subtle interplay of the interior space with the stylized natural world outside. Editor: The colors are muted, almost melancholic, aren’t they? I wonder about the pigments used and the source of their availability in Japanese society at the time. The materiality of artmaking always fascinates me. Curator: Absolutely, and considering the historical context, it's important to recognize the role of Genji as a cultural touchstone—the figure of the melancholic hero in Japanese society. This scene probably evokes intense emotional response for many readers. Editor: But the labor of creating these prints, how many hands touched this? The carvers, the printers, the binders... it’s a collective process that reflects broader social relations. Curator: Yes, and thinking about gender, how were women portrayed and how did they read this tale? What were their lived experiences in relation to this romanticized narrative? Editor: I am also curious about the distribution and consumption of these books. Who had access to literature like this, and what does that tell us about social stratification? Curator: Looking at it through different lenses really opens up the artwork, doesn’t it? Editor: Precisely. I hadn't considered the question of cultural access so deeply before.