No. 13, from the series Magic Lantern Slides of That Romantic Purple Figure (Sono sugata yukari no utsushi-e) c. 1847 - 1855

Curator: This woodblock print, No. 13 from the series Magic Lantern Slides of That Romantic Purple Figure, is by Utagawa Kunisada. Look at the four figures near the shoreline. What strikes you? Editor: The clear division of labor is immediately apparent. One woman appears to be sorting fish, highlighting the production of food and a reliance on marine resources. Curator: Indeed. Consider the social context: Kunisada created these prints in the Edo period, a time of rigid social hierarchy. The attire of these women tells a story about class and status. Editor: The details in the kimonos are intriguing. I wonder about the actual dyeing techniques. The repetition of patterns suggests a sophisticated textile industry supporting this imagery. Curator: Right, the composition itself subtly critiques those societal constraints, even celebrates the everyday existence and resilience of women within those parameters. Editor: I find it fascinating to think of this image circulating as a commodity, a means of visual consumption for urban audiences, depicting labor. It’s all so interconnected. Curator: It really makes you think about the lives represented here, and how art both reflected and shaped perceptions. Editor: Yes, it’s a stark reminder of the complex relationship between image making, class, and material reality.