Empress Jito (Jito Tenno), from the series "One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets (Hyakunin isshu no uchi)" c. 1763 - 1764

Curator: Before us is a woodblock print titled "Empress Jito, from the series One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets," crafted around 1763-1764 by Suzuki Harunobu. This piece currently resides at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: It’s remarkably delicate; the color palette feels like a muted whisper. The composition draws the eye immediately to the figure on the bridge, but the entire scene evokes such tranquility. Curator: Harunobu was a master of ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world." He developed techniques to achieve these soft colors, involving layering the woodblocks during printing to create nuanced gradations. It is more than just aesthetic; it reflects the socio-economic context in which it was made. Consider the merchants who consumed these prints—it speaks to their aspirations of a refined lifestyle emulating the court. Editor: Precisely, the colors work together to create an intimate view, the subtle shades enhance the perspective of spatial depth. Curator: Absolutely. This print exemplifies the shift in the division of labour that came about, between the artists, the woodblock carvers and printers. A system that made artwork like this affordable and distributed on a scale rarely achieved previously. The very making of the piece becomes relevant to what the art is "saying." Editor: But also consider the formal elements: the line, the rendering of the figures, even the placement of the calligraphy…It's about perfect pictorial balance. Harunobu’s control is self-evident. The scene leads to this feeling. The vertical format emphasizes the height and contributes to the harmony within the woodblock. Curator: And one might also add that the content itself—a depiction of Empress Jito who was known as the Poet-Empress—participates in the social dynamics, offering glimpses into gendered societal roles. It's about the lives that were deemed worthy of representation. Editor: A beautiful observation, bringing together both aesthetic and social narratives in one piece of art. It really emphasizes just how relevant and layered are the prints coming from that period.