Rice Plant (Ine) and Butterbur (Fukinodai), from the series An Array of Plants for the Kasumi Circle (Kasumi-ren sōmoku awase) c. 1804 - 1815

Curator: This print, entitled "Rice Plant and Butterbur," is part of the series "An Array of Plants for the Kasumi Circle" by Kubo Shunman. Editor: It's so delicate! The muted colors and simple composition evoke a quiet, almost melancholic mood. Curator: It’s worth noting that Shunman, born in 1757, operated during a time of significant social stratification. Depicting these common plants elevates them, subtly challenging the established aesthetic hierarchy. Editor: Precisely. Rice, of course, is a staple, deeply intertwined with sustenance and survival. In this context, the image becomes a quiet acknowledgement of the labor and social structures inherent to food production. Curator: And butterbur, often found in humble settings, gains a certain dignity through Shunman's artistic lens. It underscores how art can reshape our perception of everyday objects. Editor: It does make you consider the public role of art, doesn't it? This print transforms the mundane into something imbued with understated beauty and meaning. Curator: Indeed, a beautiful reminder of the politics embedded within imagery. Editor: A subtle commentary, all the more powerful for its gentle approach.