THE SIX TAMA RIVERS, "MUSASHI CHOFU" c. 19th century

Editor: Hiroshige's woodblock print, "Musashi Chofu," from the series "The Six Tama Rivers" depicts a woman washing cloth in a river. The water seems to surge around her. What catches your eye in this work? Curator: The print highlights the materiality of labor. Note the indigo dye, likely derived from plants, and the physical process of washing textiles. Consider the paper, the pigments, and the hands that transferred this image. How does this affect your understanding of the scene? Editor: I see how the focus on materials shifts the perspective. Thank you, I didn't think about it this way. Curator: Exactly, we move beyond just the picturesque to consider the means of production and the social context of everyday labor.