Annual Record of Eastern Capital (Toto saijiki) 1838

Curator: Hasegawa Settan, born in 1778, created this woodblock print, "Annual Record of Eastern Capital," depicting a bustling scene, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is just how much is happening! The sheer density of figures and architectural details, all rendered in such delicate lines, feels almost overwhelming. Curator: Precisely. The detail is key; each figure, each building, contributes to the overall symbolic weight of representing a thriving, vibrant capital. This mirrors a desire to showcase not just the city, but its enduring cultural spirit. Editor: And look at the material – the paper itself has a beautiful texture. One imagines the repetitive, skilled labor involved in carving the woodblocks and printing each image. It’s a real testament to traditional methods. Curator: The woodblock as a medium allows for a democratized distribution of imagery, embedding these symbols within the collective memory through reproduced form. The artist’s hand is present, yet distanced by the production process. Editor: It makes you think about the social role of art, and about access. Beyond the religious implications, this image also speaks to the socio-economics of cultural production. Curator: Indeed. The symbolic power and material reality are intertwined, giving us a glimpse into the culture it represents. Editor: A lot to unpack within this little book page.