Woman and Child Bidding Man Farewell c. mid to late 18th century

Editor: Here's a woodblock print called "Woman and Child Bidding Man Farewell" by Kitao Shigemasa. It’s striking how vertical it is! What first catches your eye about this piece? Curator: Well, it's that bittersweet scene, isn't it? That melancholic ache of departure, rendered with such delicate lines. It’s more than just a farewell; it’s a quiet drama, a poem of everyday life. Do you feel the restraint in the figures' postures? Editor: Absolutely, there's a stillness to it. It almost feels like a captured breath before a long journey. Curator: Precisely! Shigemasa captures that poignant moment where private emotions meet the vast, indifferent world outside. A subtle yet powerful meditation on connection and separation, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I do. It's amazing how much emotion can be conveyed with so few lines. I’ll definitely remember that, thank you!