Sotoba, from the series Seven Komachi in Fashionable Disguise (FÅ«ryÅ« yatsushi nana Komachi / FÅ«ryÅ« nana Komachi yatsushi) Possibly 1766 - 1767

Curator: This is Suzuki Harunobu's "Sotoba, from the series Seven Komachi in Fashionable Disguise," a hosoban woodblock print. The print is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It strikes me as melancholic; the muted palette and the upward gazes suggest a longing, perhaps toward something unattainable. Curator: Yes, the Komachi series reimagines the poet Komachi in contemporary scenes. In this print, she is portrayed as a rural wood seller with a child, a far cry from her aristocratic origins. Editor: The bundle of kindling becomes a symbol, then—a weight of expectation, perhaps? Or the weight of adapting to new societal roles? Curator: Precisely. The pine tree overhead, a symbol of longevity, adds another layer. The contrast between Komachi’s refined past and her present labor is poignant. Editor: A subtle commentary on class and the ever-changing roles society forces us to play, all captured in this small print. I find it quite moving.