Puppeteers - A Set of Three (Ayatsuri sanpukutsui) c. 1752

Editor: Here we have Ishikawa Toyonobu's "Puppeteers - A Set of Three (Ayatsuri sanpukutsui)" from around 1752, a woodblock print currently residing at the Art Institute of Chicago. It's a bustling scene, and something about the hazy green color palette creates a serene and almost dreamlike atmosphere despite the activity. What do you make of this composition? Curator: Dreamlike, indeed. It’s as if we are peering through a delicate screen into another world, another time. I think that sentiment arises from the technique; the subdued colours evoke a sense of nostalgia. Don't you feel as though you're almost eavesdropping on these moments? Ishikawa Toyonobu really knew how to give us that stolen glimpse. Notice how the vertical panels create separate vignettes. The playfulness in the name, puppeteers...is there someone being controlled or are we observing everyday scenarios, unaware we are on show. What are your initial reactions? Editor: The figures do feel a bit staged, now that you mention it. I guess I didn't initially connect that feeling with the title! It looks like each woman is occupying her own separate stage – a moment of personal reflection juxtaposed against images on the painted screens in the background. Curator: Exactly! These artists were storytellers, encapsulating everyday life, whispers and jokes in single images and colours. There’s even a sense of humour in the way Toyonobu composes each scene: look at the juxtaposition of high culture with the mundane activity of the subjects; like you are observing the scene, or are you on stage! Editor: That's such a fascinating interpretation, playing with that tension. I didn't realize there was so much to unpack here. Curator: Exactly. Each time you pause, reflect, revisit; you might discover something new, or reveal a forgotten secret that ignites your inspiration and imagination. Editor: I will remember that on my next gallery visit! Thanks for shining a light on this, it made the artwork a little less opaque.