Ono-no-Komachi Looking at Her Reflection 1795 - 1825

Editor: This is "Ono-no-Komachi Looking at Her Reflection," a print by Katsukawa Shuntei, dating from around 1795-1825. I’m really struck by the doubled figure of Ono-no-Komachi, a famous poet, caught in contemplation of herself. How do you interpret this work, especially in its historical context? Curator: I see this piece as engaging with complex themes of identity and aging within a patriarchal society. Ono-no-Komachi was celebrated for her poetry, but later legends often portrayed her as a fallen woman, lamenting her lost beauty and status. The mirror is not just reflecting her image, but perhaps also reflecting society's expectations and judgment of women over time. Editor: So the print is commenting on societal expectations imposed on women, using Ono-no-Komachi as a kind of symbol? Curator: Precisely. Ukiyo-e prints, while often depicting idealized beauty, could also be subversive. Consider how this image might have been received by female audiences of the time. Did it provide a space for reflecting on their own experiences of aging and social pressures? How might the text, perhaps poetry, that surrounds the figures further shape its reception? Editor: That makes me see the print differently. The image of Ono-no-Komachi is not only about feminine beauty but also represents the artist's concerns and comments on society. Curator: Exactly. We can appreciate the print as both a work of art and as a social commentary, engaging in conversations about female representation and social critique. Editor: I’ll never look at these Ukiyo-e prints the same way! It’s so fascinating to consider the possible dialogues between the artist, the subject, and society itself.