Connoisseur's Sketchbook by Kano Tan'yÅ« (Tan'yÅ« shukuzu) in Two Volumes c. 1665 - 1669

Editor: These are two volumes of "Connoisseur's Sketchbook" by Kano Tan'yū, but no date is specified. They look to be rolled and wrapped in beautiful textiles. What can you tell me about the materials and how they might relate to the art itself? Curator: Consider the labor involved in creating these elaborate textiles, perhaps silks and brocades accessible only to certain classes. These volumes become not just sketchbooks, but signifiers of wealth and artistic patronage, blurring lines between art object and commodity. How does the act of binding and concealing the art within influence our understanding of its value and consumption? Editor: That's fascinating. I never considered the textile as more than just a covering, but now I see it as an integral part of the artwork's story. Curator: Precisely. By examining the material context, we uncover the complex social and economic forces at play in its creation and reception.