Act Two from the series Treasury of Loyal Retainers (ChÅ«shingura: Ni danme): KOSAN MAKING LOVE TO RIKIYA 

Editor: This woodblock print, "Act Two from the series Treasury of Loyal Retainers" by Katsukawa Shun'ei, depicts a scene with figures in elaborate robes. The textures and patterns seem so intentional. What can we interpret from Shun'ei's choice of materials and production techniques? Curator: Consider the woodblock process itself – the labor, the multiple blocks, the inherent limitations. Each color, each line, demanded a separate block, impacting production time and cost, and therefore the artwork's accessibility and reach. How might this influence the reception of the Chushingura story by different social strata? Editor: So, the materials and their manipulation weren't just aesthetic choices, but also dictated who could consume this art? Curator: Precisely. The medium is not neutral. The woodblock print democratized art to some degree, yet still involved a system of production reflecting societal hierarchies. We can learn how the story was disseminated. Editor: That's a valuable perspective. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Keep thinking about how materials shape meaning!