Fuji no Uraha 1780 - 1800

Curator: This is "Fuji no Uraha" by Chōbunsai Eishi, a woodblock print likely created between 1780 and 1800. The piece is an excellent example of Ukiyo-e, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My immediate impression is of controlled elegance. The delicate lines and subdued color palette create a refined, almost aristocratic atmosphere. It seems to capture a fleeting moment of leisure and social exchange. Curator: Indeed. Eishi was known for depicting the fashionable women of the Yoshiwara district. However, unlike some of his contemporaries who focused on courtesans within that defined space, Eishi often situated his figures outdoors. This piece offers us glimpses of figures with intricate and meticulously rendered kimonos, revealing socio-cultural roles. Note also the composition is bisected almost symmetrically. Editor: Precisely! The bisected composition reinforces that air of balance and refined poise, but I can't help but also read it as subtly disquieting, though, too. The separation creates a sense of two distinct groups or narratives coexisting yet somewhat detached. And the negative space surrounding the figures directs our attention inward, heightening the subtle interplay of gazes and gestures. Curator: Absolutely. This division echoes the spatial separations prevalent in Edo-period society, and also can imply something about female interactions, their hierarchies, and relationships. What this particular artwork says to a present day public about Ukiyo-e’s historical significance within cultural trends warrants more attention. The role of public and private spheres within the context are things the institution continues to assess. Editor: An important piece that captures a moment while holding a longer mirror up to its culture and its place in a longer human history. Thank you! Curator: A pleasure. We hope our audience gains some valuable insights into this period.