Courtesan Hitofude of Tamaya with Attendants on the Way to the First Writing of the New Year (Kakizome no Tamaya uchi Hitofude), fifth from the series Views of Nakanochō for the Hisakata Poetry Club (Hisakataya Nakanochō no go), with poems by Minogame Osa c. 1825

Curator: This is Yashima Gakutei’s print, depicting “Courtesan Hitofude of Tamaya with Attendants on the Way to the First Writing of the New Year.” It's a charming composition. Editor: Charming, but also quite complex! I immediately notice the patterns—the interplay of geometric and floral designs on the kimonos. What's the significance of the Kakizome? Curator: It was an important New Year's tradition. This print offers insight into the cultural practices and social hierarchies of the Edo period. Editor: And the poems inscribed on the artwork, could you read them as clues of the scene? Curator: Indeed, the poems, inscribed in the upper left, add another layer, connecting the visual image to the literary culture of the time. Editor: The formal arrangement really underscores the social roles at play. I find myself contemplating this intersection of art, text, and lived experience. Curator: A valuable point, offering a rich perspective for considering this image.