Reading a Letter in Front of a Screen, from an untitled series of 12 prints c. 1710

This print, made by Torii Kiyonobu I, depicts a couple in what appears to be a domestic setting, with the woman absorbed in reading a letter. The screen behind them features stylized waves, a motif deeply rooted in Japanese art, symbolizing the fluidity of life and the ever-changing nature of existence. Waves, like those here, recur throughout art history, echoing in Hokusai's iconic "Great Wave," but also in Roman frescoes, always carrying a primal emotional weight. It speaks to the subconscious understanding of nature's power. The intimacy of the couple, juxtaposed against the dynamic waves, creates a tension, perhaps hinting at the turbulent emotions that lie beneath the surface of everyday life. This wave motif, a constant in human expression, reveals our perpetual dialogue with the forces that shape our world.