No. 22, from the series Magic Lantern Slides of That Romantic Purple Figure (Sono sugata yukari no utsushi-e) c. 1847 - 1855

Editor: This is Utagawa Kunisada's "No. 22, from the series Magic Lantern Slides of That Romantic Purple Figure," and there is no date attached to it. The setting feels like a dream, a beautiful dream. What's your take? Curator: It does feel dreamlike, doesn’t it? Kunisada was a master of ukiyo-e, those "floating world" prints. I wonder, do you see how the interior scene blurs into the exterior, almost as if the artist is collapsing time and space? Editor: Oh, interesting! It's like the women are suspended between worlds. I also see the detail in the Kimonos and the rich colors. What else stands out to you? Curator: Precisely! And consider the "romantic purple figure" alluded to in the series title; what emotions do you think the artist is trying to evoke? Editor: Now I see this piece isn't just pretty, it's layered with emotional and symbolic depth. Curator: Indeed! It's a portal into a world both beautiful and brimming with unspoken stories.