Tokonoma and Kimono Rack 

Editor: This is Utagawa Kuniyoshi's "Tokonoma and Kimono Rack," undated, at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m struck by the quiet domesticity of the scene. What social narratives do you see at play here? Curator: This print offers a glimpse into the cultivated spaces and material culture of 19th-century Japan. Consider the Tokonoma, a raised alcove, and the Kimono rack. What do these objects communicate about gender roles and social status? What do you think it tells us about the artist's view of society at the time? Editor: Perhaps a commentary on the performative aspects of identity, the "Tokonoma" as a stage for curated belongings? Curator: Precisely. By examining Kuniyoshi’s choices we can explore art’s engagement with identity and the socio-political contexts that shape individual experiences.