Eight Views of the Sumida River- Autumn Moon at Mokubo-ji Temple c. 1840 - 1842

Editor: This is "Eight Views of the Sumida River- Autumn Moon at Mokubo-ji Temple" by Utagawa Hiroshige, dating from around 1840 to 1842. It’s a woodblock print, and it’s really captivating with that enormous moon. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: The material production itself is key here. Consider the intense labor invested in carving those woodblocks, especially with such fine detail. Each print required multiple blocks for different colors. Were these artisans regarded as skilled labor, or merely craftspeople serving a commercial market? Editor: That's a great point. I hadn't considered the status of the printmakers themselves. It does seem less precious as a 'print', more focused on getting a picture of Japan in the hands of regular folk, en masse. Curator: Precisely. And that shifts our understanding of ukiyo-e, right? It was produced for consumption, not displayed in a salon. Also, consider the availability of materials: the paper, inks, wood… these were components of a flourishing economy that depended upon access and distribution networks, as much as artistry. How did material availability impact artistic decisions? Editor: So, rather than just looking at the image and its composition, you are inviting me to investigate the systems of making and consumption. That would give more perspective on the whole movement... like a complex equation of artistic expression plus material reality equals cultural significance. Curator: Exactly. It challenges the traditional hierarchy placing painting above the print. Ukiyo-e allowed art to become intertwined with the daily life of ordinary people, which changed expectations on art as precious and elite. Editor: It makes me reconsider what "art" means and how we value it. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure!