Sumida River Crossing (Sumidagawa watashiba no zu) c. 1847 - 1852

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Kuniyoshi's *Sumida River Crossing*, a woodblock print. The woman seems melancholic; she's seated in a boat with a small fire burning nearby. What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: Well, Japanese woodblock prints weren't simply decorative. They served as a crucial form of mass communication. How do you think this image might engage with the public of its time? Editor: Perhaps through popular stories, or current events? Curator: Precisely. The Sumida River was a significant cultural landmark. Kuniyoshi may have been using a familiar setting to tell a larger story about societal anxieties or the struggles of women. Editor: That gives me a new appreciation for what's beyond just its visual beauty. Curator: Indeed. Art often acts as a mirror reflecting the values and anxieties of a particular time.