Michiyuki c. 19th century

Editor: So this is "Michiyuki," a 19th-century ink and pen drawing by Hosokawa Rinkoku, currently residing at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I’m really drawn to the stark contrast between the figures and the wispy tree. What are your thoughts when you see this work? Curator: The relationship between the figures and that tree are important. I immediately consider the materiality. Look at the fluidity achieved with the ink, a carefully controlled substance manufactured through skilled labor. The paper itself – its sourcing, processing. Were these materials readily available? Did the availability of materials influence artistic production in this period? Editor: That's interesting; I hadn't considered the sourcing. So, the easy flow of ink makes this image, this expression, possible? Curator: Exactly. Now consider the subjects, seemingly engaged in a narrative moment. The characters depicted were part of society whose costumes were dictated by specific sumptuary laws concerning the type, expense and the source of raw materials from which clothes were made. How does that affect the meaning for the audience that this was made for? Editor: That contextual layer definitely enriches the experience. It's not just about the aesthetic appeal of the line; it's about the socioeconomic conditions that shaped its very existence. Curator: Precisely. And let's not forget the implied labor - the labor of the artist to create it but also, how art functions within structures of power, display and ownership? Who would commission or purchase such work, and what does that tell us? Editor: So much to unpack from such simple strokes. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Considering these material and economic factors allows us a more nuanced appreciation.