Illustrated Book of Professions with Kyōka (Kyōka Yamato jinbutsu), 2nd of 7 Volumes Possibly 1857

Curator: This spread comes from Utagawa Hiroshige's "Illustrated Book of Professions with Kyoka," one of seven volumes depicting various trades alongside humorous poems. It's held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My immediate feeling? The precariousness! This figure contorted on a ladder, juxtaposed with the grounded woman, creates such an odd, unsettling tension. Curator: That tension is at the heart of Hiroshige's commentary. Here, we see the daring acrobat, potentially representing societal ambition, contrasted with the observer, perhaps embodying tradition or the everyday. Editor: Precisely. It's a class commentary, isn't it? The acrobat's performance, often tied to the entertainment of the elite, versus the daily rituals of the working class. Look at the domestic items surrounding the woman. Curator: And the use of "kyoka"—humorous, satirical poetry—lends another layer. The poems add wit, and also critique the social hierarchy represented by these professions. Editor: Hiroshige's work prompts us to consider the often-unseen labor that upholds power structures. It's an evocative glimpse into the social theater of his time.