Harvest Scene Shōwa period,

Curator: This is "Harvest Scene" by Katsuhira Tokushi, a woodblock print housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The dimensions are approximately 14 by 20 inches. Editor: The scene feels quite grounded; the rough textures of the hay and the visible effort in the figures suggest labor, yet there's also a sense of community rest. Curator: Yes, there's a clear emphasis on the collective experience of agricultural work and the division of labor, particularly the presence and work of women in the scene. How does that fit within broader societal structures? Editor: Examining the print's process—the carving and layering of blocks—emphasizes the repetitive, material nature of both artmaking and farming. It makes you consider who has access to these means of production and consumption. Curator: Right. We could explore the politics of representation. What narratives are being emphasized here, and whose stories might be absent or marginalized within this depiction of rural life? Editor: It reminds us that even idyllic portrayals are built on the backs of labor, on the physical materials and processes that sustain both art and society. Curator: Indeed. I appreciate how this print urges us to reflect on the interconnectedness of artistic creation, labor, and social equity. Editor: Absolutely, and hopefully, to consider the materials of our own lives and the labor involved in their making.