No. 23, from the series Magic Lantern Slides of That Romantic Purple Figure (Sono sugata yukari no utsushi-e) c. 1847 - 1855

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Kunisada's woodblock print, "No. 23, from the series Magic Lantern Slides of That Romantic Purple Figure." The interior scene feels very intimate and theatrical. What do you see happening here? Curator: It's a delightful puzzle, isn’t it? I see a gathering, almost a miniature salon, perhaps connected to the floating world of Edo-period Japan. Are they enacting a scene from a play, or simply enjoying each other’s company amidst the opulent patterns? It’s like a beautifully orchestrated dream. The crane motifs behind the figures is reminiscent of longevity. What could be the story being told? Editor: Perhaps it's a glimpse into a lost world of beauty and refinement, a little like peeking through a keyhole. I see that the subjects are women and maybe a child. Would you say it depicts leisure and pleasure? Curator: Leisure, certainly, but perhaps pleasure with a touch of melancholic longing. Kunisada was a master of capturing fleeting moments, wasn't he? Editor: Absolutely. It's a captivating slice of life, or perhaps a carefully constructed fiction.