Courtesan Utagawa of the Matsubaya (Matsubaya no Utagawa) c. 1799

Editor: This is Kitagawa Utamaro's "Courtesan Utagawa of the Matsubaya," a woodblock print from the late Edo period. The intricate patterns and delicate lines seem so luxurious. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look at the materials – paper, wood, ink. How does the process of woodblock printing, a *laborious* and *highly skilled* craft, elevate the status of the courtesan depicted? Is Utamaro commenting on the commodification of beauty and desire within this social structure? Editor: So, the medium itself reflects the social and economic dynamics of the time. I hadn't considered that! Curator: Exactly! It makes us think about production, consumption, and representation. Editor: That's a perspective I'll definitely carry forward!