IRIS AND WAGTAIL c. 19th century

Editor: This is Utagawa Hiroshige's "Iris and Wagtail," currently at the Harvard Art Museums. There is a tranquil and gentle quality to this image. What can you tell us about its cultural significance? Curator: The print reflects the Edo period’s fascination with the natural world, but it also represents the rising merchant class's influence on art. These prints were accessible to a broader public, democratizing art consumption. How do you see that reflected here? Editor: I see a delicate balance between nature and something almost like a logo for the rising merchant class. It feels very intentional. Curator: Exactly. It’s a blend of traditional artistic themes with the socio-economic shifts of the time. The imagery isn't just pretty; it's participating in a cultural moment. Editor: That really changes how I see it! Curator: Indeed. Art often reflects and shapes the society around it, doesn't it?