Triplets Born to a Farmer and His Wife 1875

Curator: This woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, dating back to 1875, is titled "Triplets Born to a Farmer and His Wife". The scene seems quite domestic; what catches your eye first? Editor: Well, immediately it's the clear depiction of labor involved in childbirth and caretaking—all hands on deck it seems! The textures created by the woodblock technique bring a distinct quality to everyday objects: the woven mats, the water tub. It emphasizes the materiality of daily life for the farmer’s family. Curator: Indeed, and if we contextualize this image within Meiji-era Japan, it’s worth noting the rise of newspapers like the one depicted at the top; these prints served to disseminate news and information but also reflect a particular political framing, showcasing everyday life in the context of a rapidly modernizing society. Editor: It’s interesting to note that a woodblock print, itself a manufactured product through the artist's and craftsman's labor, would carry an image documenting another kind of labor—childbirth, childcare—a different sort of manufacturing. Also I can see the red garment that is present on different places which makes me think of blood or a general atmosphere of urgency and raw experience. Curator: I agree, and consider the function of the image; the text in this artwork makes specific references, perhaps even celebrating this particular birth in a journalistic fashion, suggesting the rise of the concept of the “common man” into the social narrative. It is a far cry from the heroic depictions of previous artistic movements. It creates intimacy, that birth and infancy usually possess. Editor: Exactly, which circles back to how a craft object like the woodblock print made this type of "news" so readily accessible to be distributed in broad amounts. Curator: Thinking about the role of images in circulating specific types of narratives, makes you question: to what extent does the newsprint aesthetic, as well as the composition and themes in the image, affect our understanding? It provides social context around both the image production and subjects displayed. Editor: Absolutely, analyzing the interplay between labor, artistic creation, and socio-political representation makes Yoshitoshi’s work so relevant when it comes to the discussion of society, art making, and distribution processes. Curator: It certainly sheds new light on the dynamics of society and the importance of news circulation in such context! Thank you.