Vijandelijke golven naderen de moderne prins Genji 1860 - 1866

Editor: This is "Hostile Waves Approaching the Modern Prince Genji" a woodblock print created between 1860 and 1866 by Utagawa Kunisada, here at the Rijksmuseum. The figure seems lost in thought, and there's a palpable tension between the beauty of her surroundings and a feeling of encroaching darkness. What draws your eye most in this piece? Curator: Oh, that tension, exactly! It's in the vibrant kimono against the somber, almost menacing, landscape. Look at how those 'hostile waves' of the title are subtly hinted at with those ominous blues and grays dominating the background. It whispers of unrest, doesn't it? Perhaps reflecting social anxieties of the time? The beauty is almost a mask. Editor: That's fascinating! So you're seeing the landscape itself as a metaphor? Curator: Precisely! Utagawa was a master of ukiyo-e. This genre often depicted fleeting beauty. The tension he created speaks to a deeper narrative. How the beautiful figure relates to that hostile wave feels super dramatic – and he seems to want the viewer to explore what it all means. And it's so intriguing that he titles him as the 'modern' Prince Genji! Editor: That makes so much sense. I was so focused on the aesthetic, the colors, that I missed the narrative depth. The looming darkness really shifts the feeling now. It's more than just a pretty picture. Curator: Isn't that the joy of art? It reflects back to us our own curiosities. Now, looking again, do you notice other details or how certain areas are blurred? It adds yet another layer of feeling – one that perhaps we, ourselves, project! Editor: Definitely. It is interesting how a new lens can transform what seems simple into something so profound and telling. Thanks!