Mibu no Hirokichi Sandai Jitsuroku, from the series Twenty-Four Japanese Paragons of Filial Piety for the Honchō Circle (Honchōren honchō nijÅ«shikō) c. 1821 - 1822

Curator: Yashima Gakutei's print, titled "Mibu no Hirokichi Sandai Jitsuroku," from the "Twenty-Four Japanese Paragons of Filial Piety," really strikes me. The colors are so gentle, almost dreamlike. Editor: It's interesting how the artist utilizes the woodblock to create this textured surface, especially in the fields of rice. It speaks to the material conditions of agricultural life and labor. Curator: Absolutely. You see the figure of Hirokichi, a symbol of filial piety, perhaps carrying a burden on his back. This evokes the weight of familial duty so deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Editor: And consider the paper itself, the way it absorbs the ink, creating these soft edges. It bridges the gap between the hand of the artist and the land that sustains the community. Curator: The figure's downward gaze pulls us into a narrative of devotion. It's a universal image of the burdens and blessings of family. Editor: It is through such mass-produced images that social values are instilled and replicated across time. A poignant reminder of the power of art's materiality.