Umewaka Shrine (Umewaka Jinja) c. 1879

Editor: This is Kobayashi Kiyochika's "Umewaka Shrine," created with woodblock print. It's so evocative, the rain almost obscures everything. What do you see in how Kiyochika depicted this scene? Curator: Notice how the rain, achieved through repetitive lines, isn't just weather but a manufactured effect. It highlights the process of printmaking itself. The shrine becomes secondary to the means of its production, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I see that now! I was so focused on the subject, I missed the emphasis on the process. Curator: Precisely! Kiyochika's work often reveals more about the act of creating art than the subject it depicts. It makes you consider the labor involved. Editor: That's a great point! I'll definitely look at prints differently now.