Farmer and Son on the Way Home 18th-19th century

Editor: This is "Farmer and Son on the Way Home" by Tawaraya Sōri, a woodblock print. It's simple, yet the figures exude a real sense of weariness. What strikes you most about this work? Curator: I'm drawn to the labor implied in its creation. The woodblock process itself is a testament to human effort. Also, consider the socio-economic context: the print depicts agricultural workers, highlighting the material realities of their lives and how that labor is consumed by society. What do you make of the artist's decision to depict this specific subject? Editor: It's a beautiful depiction of something very human. I'm now more aware of the labour that has gone into it, both by the farmer, and by the artist.