A trial of strength, no. 9 from a series of 12 prints c. 1708

Editor: We're looking at "A trial of strength, no. 9 from a series of 12 prints," created around 1708 by Okumura Masanobu. It’s an ink print on paper, currently held at The Art Institute of Chicago. It has a playful, almost cartoonish quality, achieved through delicate lines, with a clear composition dividing the figures and objects... What jumps out at you about the structure of this print? Curator: The beauty of this work lies precisely in those structural relationships. Observe how the artist uses line, or, more accurately, variations in line. Thick lines define contours, while thinner strokes describe details and patterns. It creates visual texture without resorting to tonal shading, what do you think is emphasized here? Editor: I see what you mean! So instead of shadows and highlights, it is more of a flat illustrative work of different, intricate graphic elements. In a way, its strength lies in the contrasting planes and details between, for example, the facial expression of the larger character in relation to the teapot. The tension almost resembles an element from "Where's Waldo". Curator: Precisely. The composition’s success lies in these structural elements. What about the framing? Editor: It seems minimal, directing attention towards the figures without distraction from the context, except a marking that seems to refer to where the plate stood in the series. It gives it this unfinished aesthetic. Curator: This asymmetry and this explicit bareness only reinforces the visual effect you astutely remarked, enhancing our perception of its key design elements. Editor: Fascinating. I hadn't considered how its structural aspects, like lines and deliberate compositional bareness, directly contributed to its distinctive character. Thanks for showing me the ropes, that's given me much to consider.