Young Girl by a Well, from the series Three Women c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Young Girl by a Well, from the series Three Women," created by Yanagawa Shigenobu. Shigenobu was active in the late Edo period, focusing on ukiyo-e prints. Editor: The girl, or young woman, feels serene, but perhaps a little melancholic? The colors are soft, and even the well seems aged and still. Curator: The series likely catered to a male audience interested in idealized images of women, fitting within the broader ukiyo-e culture of the time. Her kimono pattern, those stylized clouds, speaks to status and taste. Editor: The well itself, such a fundamental source, feels significant. Water, of course, is a classic symbol of purity, but also of the subconscious. Curator: Right, and presenting women near water sources connects to very old, even primal, imagery. It makes you wonder how art shapes our own deep symbolism. Editor: Indeed! A potent reminder of the weight images carry across time.