Fish 

Editor: So, this woodblock print is simply titled "Fish" by Toyota Hokkei, and it seems to be from the Ukiyo-e period, given the style. There’s a striking contrast between the large, dark flatfish and the smaller, lighter colored fish piled beneath it. It almost feels like a commentary on the food chain. What's your read on a piece like this? Curator: Interesting observation! While the composition is certainly striking, framing it simply as "food chain" misses the cultural and historical context embedded in Ukiyo-e prints. Consider who was consuming these images. This likely wasn’t simply about depicting fish for the sake of it; it was circulated among urban populations, newly literate merchants and others in society who had very little access to art before this point in history. It’s mass-produced and made widely available to a segment of society eager to consume the exotic novelties and exciting scenes of their everyday lives. Ukiyo-e prints became central to constructing social identity and taste for these new urban classes. What effect might it have on a society newly given this form of expression? Editor: So, it’s more about accessibility and creating a shared visual language for a rising merchant class rather than a naturalistic study of fish? Curator: Precisely! These images were commodities themselves. And, it makes me think about the politics embedded here. Think about who controls the imagery; they inevitably control taste and normalize standards of living. Perhaps Hokkei is playing on this himself? Are there elements that strike you as challenging or affirming dominant ideals? Editor: I didn't consider the political implications initially, but now I see how this print, and others like it, contributed to shaping a new social order through art. I always thought it was pretty at face value. Thanks, I learned a lot about that! Curator: Indeed, examining the artwork from the point of view of art's public role enriches our understanding. I'm pleased this changed the way you see this work!