Wijsgeer onder parasol 1700 - 1900

Curator: Before us is an ink drawing titled "Wijsgeer onder parasol," or "Philosopher under Parasol." It's an ukiyo-e piece likely created between 1700 and 1900 by Ichirakasai. What's your first take? Editor: Well, immediately, it's wispy, isn't it? Like a half-formed thought sketched on a cloudy day. I’m drawn to the material simplicity—it's really just ink on paper, capturing a whole mood. Curator: Absolutely, Ichirakasai masterfully utilizes line to convey form and essence. The philosopher, or perhaps a wandering monk, seems almost ethereal beneath the large parasol. To me it speaks of the fleeting nature of enlightenment. Editor: I'm struck by that parasol—its ribbed structure meticulously rendered against the relative fluidity of the figure. It makes you wonder about the means of producing these objects: who wove it? Where did the ink come from? These were materials tied to networks of labor. Curator: That tension you mention gives me pause... How the temporary interacts with the persistent! Considering that Ichirakasai likely made numerous prints, there's a process of reproduction inherently tied to making them accessible. It’s beautiful and poignant. Editor: Indeed. Ukiyo-e itself, "pictures of the floating world", implies a commodification of artistic skill. A constant negotiation between creative work and consumer culture that should be reflected on today. Curator: Yes! But returning to the piece itself: look at the circle down there! Perhaps hinting towards an inner space where worldly constraints cease to exist. To make it, ink wasn’t just drawn—but perhaps played and danced onto the paper with total certainty and also letting go… Editor: It truly prompts thinking about materials beyond aesthetic means, and the labor supporting those materials and their broader implications. Thanks! Curator: Thank YOU! For reminding me there's always more to the "floating world" than meets the wandering eye.