Oharame and Ox 

Curator: Here we have "Oharame and Ox," a print by Tawaraya Sōri. Note the fine lines and delicate colors, all executed on paper. What's your initial take? Editor: It's whimsical! The ox is massive, almost overwhelming the women. There’s a lightness, though, a kind of breezy elegance in their robes. Curator: Indeed. Oharame were known for selling wood and brushwood in the capital. Prints like this offer glimpses into daily life. Editor: This is almost fairytale-like in its simplicity. Curator: Yes, the artist elevates this mundane scene with the formal composition and, notably, the calligraphic inscriptions, so integral to the scene. Editor: It makes you wonder what story they are trying to tell. Curator: It’s a fascinating blend of social observation and artistic license. Editor: A perfect collision of the real and the imagined.