Suikoden (Tales of the Water Margin) Possibly 1829

Curator: This is a page from “Suikoden (Tales of the Water Margin),” a sketchbook by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Note the size: it’s quite intimate, just under seven inches in height, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Intimate is right. It feels like a whispered secret, this page. The sketchy lines and the figure with the bow – there’s a sense of both tension and stillness. Curator: Kuniyoshi’s sketchbooks served as a space for exploration. He's playing with the narrative of the Suikoden, a popular tale, and also exploring different approaches to image production using ink and paper. Editor: It’s fascinating to see the process so laid bare. The character almost emerges from the page, and the mountains in the distance provide a lovely contrast. I wonder about the red ink? Curator: Indeed, the red annotations offer insight into the text and add another layer to our understanding of Kuniyoshi's method. The annotations may indicate a revision or further study. Editor: It definitely feels like a peek into the artist’s mind. Curator: Absolutely. This sketchbook leaf provides a fascinating lens through which to study Kuniyoshi’s process and how the artist used the space of the sketchbook. Editor: Yes, it truly encapsulates the raw energy and narrative power that even the simplest sketch can contain.