Carp c. 1835 - 1839

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Hiroshige’s "Carp," a woodblock print from around 1835-1839. The image has this strange but simple, calm feeling to it. What catches your eye about this piece? Curator: Oh, that carp! Isn’t it magnificent? For me, this print whispers of resilience, you know? How the carp swims upstream is almost a visual poem, mirroring life's tenacious climb, not entirely unlike the creative struggle... It’s an echo of nature’s undaunted spirit. Editor: That's beautiful. So the carp itself is symbolic? Curator: Absolutely. And the choice of the medium, the woodblock print... Do you feel that lends a certain accessible quality to it? It brings the art to the people, if you will, making it a part of everyday life. These prints were often collected and traded... sort of like vintage baseball cards, if you ask me. Editor: So it's both beautiful and functional? That's interesting. Curator: Indeed! And it wasn't only aesthetic... the *ukiyo-e* prints documented popular culture: beautiful courtesans, landscapes...they tell you a lot about Japan at the time. Almost like little historical documents made with ink. Don’t you feel as though the composition itself also tells a bit of a story, in itself? Editor: You’re right; I can see so much more than just a pretty picture now! Thanks. Curator: My pleasure! There is always more beneath the surface; sometimes all you need is the right perspective!