Illustrations on Bugaku 1823 - 1828

Editor: Here we have "Illustrations on Bugaku" created between 1823 and 1828 by Yusaigen Chiharu. It's comprised of ink, watercolor and print on paper, housed at The Met. It resembles pages in a personal sketchbook. The colours feel delicate, and it makes me think about meticulous processes. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: The method of production speaks volumes. It's not merely an illustration but a print. Think about the labour involved – carving, inking, and repeated impressions. Consider how printed images like this made representations of Bugaku, a highly exclusive performance tradition, accessible to a wider, potentially middle-class, audience. How does that democratization through print affect its perceived value versus an original painting? Editor: That’s fascinating! So, the *act* of printing itself transforms the social value of the image, regardless of its artistic merit? Curator: Exactly! The materials used—ink and paper—are also not neutral. Ink from specific regions, the quality of the paper... all affect how the image is consumed and understood. Even the choice of watercolor rather than oils would influence both the cost of production and its visual effect. Editor: I hadn't considered how the materials are indicators of value. Looking at it now, I see the level of access matters as much as the aesthetic itself. Curator: Indeed. This is a mass-produced representation of elite art and how its material existence allows us to challenge boundaries between high art and craft. Think, what type of consumption did this piece enable?