A Poetry Contest for Edo Craftsmen (Edo shokunin uta awase) in 2 volumes Possibly 1808

Editor: This is "A Poetry Contest for Edo Craftsmen" in two volumes by Ishihara Masaakira. I am struck by the texture and the binding; it looks incredibly fragile. What draws your eye when you consider this piece? Curator: Consider the deliberate composition. The contrasting paper labels create a vertical rhythm against the expanse of the blue covers. Are they not a visual echo of the poems held within? Editor: That’s interesting. I was so focused on the material itself. Curator: The materiality is integral. The slight imperfections, the visible threads – they speak to a hand-crafted tradition, mirroring the artisans celebrated within. Editor: I hadn't considered that, thank you. It's fascinating how the physical aspects reflect the content.