URAURA TAIRYO NO SU c. 19th century

Editor: This print, URAURA TAIRYO NO SU by Utagawa Hiroshige, shows a large group of people hauling in nets. I'm struck by how much labor is depicted here. What stands out to you? Curator: I see the woodblock print as illustrating the commodification of nature through collective effort. The printmaking process itself, a form of labor, mirrors the intensive labor of the fishermen depicted. What does it tell us about resource extraction and consumption in 19th century Japan? Editor: That's interesting. So you're saying the print itself is a product of labor, commenting on the labor it depicts? Curator: Precisely. Consider also the distribution of these prints – how did that influence consumption patterns and perceptions of coastal life? Did it democratize art, or simply repackage labor for a different audience? Editor: I hadn't considered the consumption of the print itself. Thanks, that gives me a lot to think about! Curator: My pleasure. It's about understanding how art objects are embedded in wider economic and social systems.