Courtier Visiting Lover with text beginning "He hid by the brushwood fence and looked in expectantly..." (Machikaki shibagaki no moto ni tachikakurete mitareba...), from the series The Changelings (Torikaeba monogatari), with poem by Warakuen Harumitsu c. early 19th century

Editor: This print by Kubo Shunman, whose full title is "Courtier Visiting Lover…," feels incredibly still, almost secretive. The soft colors and the man peering into the window create such a quiet anticipation. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It whispers of longing, doesn't it? That texture in the roof, like a thousand tiny hearts beating. And the poem to the side, a faded love letter. I imagine Shunman chuckled while creating this, understanding the delicious tension of clandestine meetings. Does it remind you of anyone? Editor: Maybe a little! It makes me think about how much we still connect with these emotions centuries later. Thanks for your thoughts. Curator: My pleasure. It's a reminder that art, like love, transcends time.