Hot Springs Inn (Onsen yado) Possibly 1920 - 1929

Editor: This is Hashiguchi Goyo's "Hot Springs Inn," a woodblock print. There's a palpable sense of quiet contemplation about this figure, almost melancholy. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: It's important to remember these images were often commissioned, reflecting idealized versions of women for a male gaze. How does the artist subtly challenge or perhaps reinforce existing social constructs around women and their representation within art and society? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but that's a really interesting point about the male gaze. It’s given me a lot to consider. Curator: Consider that the setting also impacts our understanding; this moment of leisure hints at a certain class position too. By situating it, we reveal the complexities inherent in its creation and reception.