Jōga hongetsu 1880

Curator: Standing before us is "Jōga hongetsu," a woodblock print created around 1880 by the artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. Its traditional Ukiyo-e style beautifully depicts a celestial being. Editor: Wow, she’s so serene! There’s this otherworldly grace about her, like she’s floating right out of a dream…and all those flowing textiles and ribbons! Curator: Yoshitoshi was deeply interested in representations of women and exploring his sociopolitical context, and here he places the female form in this elevated almost godly scene. Editor: Makes me think of stories my grandma told about moon spirits—gossamer clothes, sweet tea, and infinite wisdom. The print is quite small; I could hold her whole universe in my hands, so delicate! Curator: And how those elements challenge Western art historical conventions! Look how line, color, and form function as socially learned and determined elements. How does gender mediate how it feels when encountering the artwork? Editor: Ooh, my head’s already swimming. Maybe some tea *would* help. There’s this kind of…melancholy, though, don't you think? Despite all the light colours, like a bittersweet farewell. Curator: Indeed, Ukiyo-e often carries undercurrents of societal change and reflections on mortality. Gender roles during the Meiji period are something to definitely keep in mind too. Editor: Gosh, and to think, so much feeling from carved blocks of wood. Art never ceases to amaze, huh? Curator: That's exactly right. Editor: Alright, well I guess its time for me to find my next muse then... Curator: It’s crucial that we also remember those muses came from particular perspectives and experiences of that time period. Let’s keep reflecting!