Woman Pulling the Wheeled Writing Table (Fuguruma) Rope, from the series Seven Designs for the Katsushika Circle (Katsushika shichiban tsuzuki), with poems by Bunkōsha Funazumi and Bunchōsha Hanahito (or Hanando) c. 1826

Curator: This print, from a series by Yashima Gakutei, is titled "Woman Pulling the Wheeled Writing Table (Fuguruma) Rope." Editor: It strikes me as quite domestic, and serene, despite the implied effort of pulling the heavy table. Curator: Gakutei's work often focused on the leisure activities of the merchant class. Notice how the wheeled table, laden with books, indicates a culture of learning accessible to women. Editor: Precisely. The cord she pulls, ornamented with a tassel, becomes a symbol of her controlled movement and the subtle constraints within her world. Curator: And observe the patterns in her robes – a display of textile techniques and dye processes, indicating material wealth and the sophisticated consumption of goods in this society. Editor: The floral motifs also imply beauty and cultivated refinement, fitting with the poems presented alongside. Curator: Indeed, the combination of text and image reinforces the artistic and intellectual pursuits of the Katsushika circle. It's a snapshot of their material culture, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Yes. Together, these details offer a glimpse into a world where domesticity held symbolic and practical weight.