Schoolgirls Homeward Bound, from the series Young Beauties in Layered Mists (Yaegasumi) c. 1906

Curator: This is Ikeda Shoen's "Schoolgirls Homeward Bound" from the "Young Beauties in Layered Mists" series, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's a wistful scene. The soft colors and the girls' downcast eyes give it a melancholic feel. Curator: The imagery of young women in transit is a recurring motif. It's interesting how the artist uses clothing as a signifier of status and identity. Editor: Absolutely. Look at the layering of the kimonos, the subtle shifts in color and texture—the time and labor involved speaks volumes about the social context and the girls' position within it. Curator: The image definitely speaks to fleeting moments and the passage of time. Editor: It's a poignant exploration of girlhood and material culture.