Vrouw in regenjas met gestileerd vlinder patroon, een naar benenden gerichte paraplu openend. 1740 - 1745

Curator: This elegant woodblock print from between 1740 and 1745, by Ishikawa Toyonobu, is titled "Woman in Raincoat with Stylized Butterfly Pattern, Opening a Downward-Pointing Umbrella". Editor: It's striking. There’s a quiet elegance about her posture. And I’m drawn to the downward-pointing umbrella. It almost feels like she is protecting a secret or sheltering herself from unseen eyes, what do you think? Curator: Ukiyo-e prints like these offered glimpses into the floating world of Edo-period Japan, capturing the fleeting beauty of daily life. Toyonobu, known for his elegant figures, was particularly skilled at depicting women. What makes this piece interesting is how the artist places a courtesan or a woman about town into these unusual spaces to showcase them more than represent actual spaces. Editor: The stylized butterfly pattern, along with the gentle incline of her head, does add a sense of emotional complexity. Butterflies have a symbolic link to transformation, to the fleeting nature of existence, which is interesting for the 'floating world' genre. Curator: Absolutely. And we must remember the political forces at play at this time. There was heavy censoring. Often these types of prints would have information or subversive material added after production in order to get passed censors. Editor: That is indeed intriguing. So even what seems purely aesthetic might hold layers of political or social commentary? The deliberate act of hiding elements within the design feels like a powerful act of resistance, now that you mention this. I am suddenly interested in the direction of the umbrella. Downward indicates a closing but what else? Curator: I believe it represents the social anxieties of the era masked within seemingly innocent imagery. We may have seen censorship at play and can now read new insights into an image such as this. Editor: This definitely reframes how I perceive the woman and her gesture. It's fascinating how the interplay of design and the potential for a clandestine message enriches the narrative, it creates an image which moves the viewer through the different perspectives that were not as easily had in its time. Curator: Indeed. It is in retrospect that we truly unlock these visual clues.