Rules for the Department of Young Ladies (Shōgaku Joreishiki zukai) c. late 19th century

Editor: This is "Rules for the Department of Young Ladies" by Adachi Ginkō. It feels so domestic and serene. What's striking is how much activity is packed into this one room. What do you see in this piece? Curator: As a woodblock print, its production relies on a complex division of labor – artist, carver, printer, and publisher – each contributing to its materiality and dissemination. What does this mass production tell us about the consumption of images and the role of women in Meiji-era Japan? Editor: So, it's not just about the aesthetics, but also the social context of its creation and consumption? Curator: Precisely. Think about the paper itself, the inks, the wood – how do these materials inform our understanding of the artwork's purpose and impact on society? Editor: I never thought about it that way before! It makes you wonder about the lives of the people involved in making and viewing it. Curator: Indeed, and how their labor shaped the cultural landscape.