Procession of Women Carrying Palanquin c. 19th century

Editor: This is a print by Utagawa Toyohiro, titled "Procession of Women Carrying Palanquin". I’m struck by the stillness, the quietness of the scene. What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, it’s about that moment of suspension. The weight of the palanquin, both literal and metaphorical. How the woman bearing the weight is composed; the man inside looks like he is expecting something; this print is like a fleeting dream. Editor: A dream? Curator: Yes, don't you think so? The colors are so dream-like, the composition feels a little off. It's really striking, isn’t it? I'm left wondering about who these people are, their stories. Editor: It is! I never thought about it that way; this has been really insightful, thank you!