A Man in Nightly Rain 1835 - 1836

Curator: The Rijksmuseum houses this Japanese woodblock print entitled "A Man in Nightly Rain," created by Utagawa Kunisada sometime between 1835 and 1836. What springs to mind for you? Editor: Immediate impression? Melancholy, almost humorous. It's that stoic face battling the elements! He's bundled up, yet somehow vulnerable with those bare feet. I sense determination mixed with a hint of absurdity, like a character from a Beckett play misplaced in a downpour. Curator: You keyed into something important – the blend of seriousness and wit typical of Ukiyo-e art. This print offers us insights into the late Edo period, specifically through the lens of its popular culture. That massive woven hat he's wearing, the traditional attire… these weren't just aesthetic choices, but powerful signifiers. Editor: Absolutely! And that hat isn't just protection; it's almost like he's carrying his whole world on his shoulders. Symbolically, could that point to burdens he bears, responsibilities he carries... and does the rain, pelting down, mirror the emotional hardships of everyday existence, wouldn't you say? The period of economic hardship maybe? Curator: Very perceptive! Rain is frequently utilized to signify purifying but, moreover, to denote impermanence in ukiyo-e. Also consider what this print says about gender expectations and masculine presentation during this epoch, which might give modern viewers insight into shifts across generations regarding such issues within society itself! Editor: It really prompts reflection regarding shifting norms as generations change views and social values throughout periods – beautifully presented even though done in an old method!. It’s a paradox almost isn't that remarkable! What can we learn after this. Curator: Precisely, these prints act almost as a collective record about aspirations plus concerns once held society – like capturing little slices directly out reality back into its proper setting – with an important piece inside the grand picture itself – an entire chronicle if only you were prepared observe attentively as such occurred across ages. It has proven exceptionally satisfying; our dialogue around. Editor: Likewise. It brings things fully. It enriches personal understandings regarding both ourselves plus all world through these amazing. Bye-bye all.