Segawa of the Matsubaya- Returning Sails c. 1773 - 1775

Curator: Looking at "Segawa of the Matsubaya- Returning Sails", an Ukiyo-e style woodblock print by Isoda Koryusai from around 1773 to 1775, I am struck by its quiet intimacy. Editor: Yes, it feels almost dreamlike. The colors are soft, and the figures seem lost in their own thoughts. There is a mood of serenity in how this work depicts the subjects in the space. Curator: Precisely. It’s interesting to consider this print within the context of the Floating World, a society focused on pleasure and entertainment. These prints allowed the rising middle class to participate in the cultural milieu of the time. This example demonstrates print's vital democratization role for art appreciation. Editor: It speaks to the commercial appeal and the male gaze involved in depictions of women within ukiyo-e traditions. The identities, social statuses and sexual agency of these two woman becomes an interesting point of study when assessing historical issues of class, gender and profession. What about the Kabuki connection and performance art that involves the women shown here? Curator: It does, certainly. The woman depicted here, Segawa Kikunojo III, was indeed a celebrated Kabuki actor specializing in female roles, called "onnagata". Ukiyo-e prints featuring actors blurred lines between popular culture and art in unique ways. How fascinating that theatre intersects with print culture to promote certain notions of female representation! Editor: What do you see here in terms of socio-political tensions or social structures related to female roles in 18th century Japanese society? Were certain behaviors or characteristics that made it impossible for a woman of that day to rise in societal rank or engage in certain professions? How can a print open doors for these difficult but urgent topics of conversation? Curator: We can appreciate Koryusai’s woodblock printing work and how the art market's structures served and supported his success, while reflecting on ways female representation both empowered and constrained its subjects. I appreciate the way you prompted me to contemplate the role gender has within this artwork and the potential interpretations by viewers today. Editor: Indeed, considering it alongside the context of cultural narratives certainly encourages rich discussions of identity, societal dynamics, and political imagery.