Making Ceramics 1800 - 1854

Editor: "Making Ceramics," a watercolor painting by Eiraku Hozen from the early 1800s, currently housed at the Met. There is such a relaxed feeling with the muted color palette; it almost feels like stepping back in time. What captures your attention in this artwork? Curator: What interests me most is how this piece operates within the broader context of ukiyo-e. We often think of ukiyo-e as vibrant woodblock prints depicting courtesans and kabuki actors. But here, Hozen uses watercolor to show a much more quotidian scene: craftspeople at work. What does this tell us about the role of art and labor? Editor: I never really considered that before, but seeing art reflecting daily labor adds a new dimension to ukiyo-e. Was it common to see these scenes represented? Curator: Depictions of labor, particularly skilled trades, served multiple purposes. They provided documentation of production processes but also elevated the status of these professions. Genre painting has always been political because who is depicted in artwork, and how they are shown, speaks volumes about their status in society. Notice, for instance, how carefully Hozen renders the details of their activity. Why might the artist emphasize those details? Editor: Maybe to communicate the knowledge and artistry required to do this work well? Highlighting the level of skill adds another layer to my understanding and perhaps, appreciation for it, I hadn't initially noticed! Thanks! Curator: Precisely. Consider how these images shaped public perception and social hierarchies. Recognizing that shifts our understanding, right? It reveals how images play an active role in society and social status. Editor: Definitely! It makes me look at even seemingly quiet pieces like this one and really start asking, ‘What is this artwork trying to do in the world?’ I'll need to keep that perspective as I move forward with other pieces.