No. 17, from the series Magic Lantern Slides of That Romantic Purple Figure (Sono sugata yukari no utsushi-e) c. 1847 - 1855

Curator: Utagawa Kunisada's woodblock print, "No. 17, from the series Magic Lantern Slides of That Romantic Purple Figure," presents a domestic scene filled with intricate patterns. It strikes me as both intimate and performative. Editor: Performative, yes, I agree. I am particularly drawn to the rendering of textiles and the various objects that seem to define social standing. The figures are framed by the objects around them. Curator: Exactly. And consider the labor involved in producing those textiles, the creation and consumption of these objects within the broader social context of 19th-century Japan. Editor: It also hints at the complexities of gender and leisure. We see these figures, likely women, engaged in pastimes. However, that very leisure is a product of a system with pronounced social hierarchies. Curator: Indeed. The print’s materiality speaks volumes about the social structures of its time. Editor: Ultimately, it is a striking depiction of class and identity. Curator: I hadn't considered that point before. Thanks. Editor: And thank you for sharing the material context.