Sumida River Crossing (Sumidagawa watashiba no zu) c. 1847 - 1852

Curator: This woodblock print, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Sumida River Crossing" and was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, who lived from 1797 to 1861. Editor: There's such intense energy, almost frantic, in this image. The figure, with that straw overcoat, looks caught in a moment of frantic escape across the water. Curator: Absolutely, this work resonates strongly with themes of marginalization and the struggle for survival in Edo-period Japan, considering Kuniyoshi's focus on societal outcasts and the narratives he often depicted. The figure's attire, while seemingly rustic, points towards a deeper commentary on class and status. Editor: I’m also drawn to the composition. The almost brutal diagonal of the boat slices through the space, creating a sense of urgency. And that single rudder? Vulnerable! Curator: The rudder's presence, or lack thereof, speaks volumes about agency and control, or rather the lack thereof, within the context of the Sumida River as a historical and symbolic space of transit and transformation. Editor: Right? Like a desperate prayer cast upon the current. I guess it’s just a feeling, but this piece really speaks to the fragility of life, you know? Curator: Indeed, the piece invites us to reflect on broader themes of resilience, resistance, and the precariousness of existence.