Daikoku Cutting Plum Blossoms c. early 18th century

Curator: This print, attributed to Okumura Toshinobu, depicts Daikoku Cutting Plum Blossoms. Editor: It's such a lighthearted image, isn't it? The vertical composition really emphasizes Daikoku's precarious balancing act atop the rice bales. Curator: Indeed. Toshinobu uses strong, confident lines to define form, while the muted palette contributes to the print's overall sense of calm. Note how the woodblock technique renders the textures of the robes and the rough bark of the plum tree. Editor: And the plum blossoms, symbols of resilience and renewal, are especially poignant against the backdrop of Daikoku, the deity of wealth. There's a real sense of abundance and optimism here. Curator: The interplay between the static figure and the dynamic diagonal of the plum branch creates a subtle tension, wouldn't you say? Editor: Perhaps. What resonates for me is how Toshinobu encapsulates a whole narrative of prosperity and renewal in a single, elegant moment.