Descending Geese of the Koto Bridges (Kotoji no rakugan), from the series "Eight Views of the Parlor (Zashiki hakkei)" c. 1766

Curator: Here we have Suzuki Harunobu’s woodblock print, “Descending Geese of the Koto Bridges (Kotoji no rakugan), from the series "Eight Views of the Parlor (Zashiki hakkei),” created around 1766. The Art Institute of Chicago is lucky to have it in its collection. It's a truly exquisite piece. Editor: It's remarkably serene. There's such an overwhelming sense of peace just emanating from this scene, with these two women seemingly absorbed in their separate pursuits. Curator: Yes! The composition is wonderful; so subtle yet suggestive. One woman appears to be mending or preparing threads, the other is reading a book, all beneath what looks like a blossoming tree visible through the shoji screen. What about the goose reference from the title? It might seem oddly out of place. Editor: Not really. Geese were often seen as symbols of autumn, of transition, and of messages delivered from afar. But that long instrument tells the true story. The koto—it’s all about refinement and cultural literacy. Curator: And it rests rather symbolically across their laps. Do you find that curious? Editor: Well, it certainly emphasizes the artistry connecting both their occupations—music, literature, textile art… they all weave together here. The lattice-work of the shoji screen in the background reinforces that feeling of intricate connection. Curator: I am totally into that. The subdued color palette, dominated by browns, grays, and soft pinks, enhances that feeling of gentle harmony, wouldn’t you agree? I feel a strong element of romantic melancholy. The transient beauty of nature is there to touch it. Editor: Melancholy fits perfectly. These "Eight Views" were obviously alluding to specific places, but transformed into idealized images of life inside the home and heart. I love the attention to small gestures—the curve of a neck, the slight tilt of a head… these details tell the tale. It could be an everyday image or something intensely private, capturing some of womanhood’s most fleeting instants. Curator: A fleeting moment crystallized… I feel lucky to have had even this short of amount time with Harunobu’s view of interior, harmonious world. Editor: Precisely! It invites reflection on life’s transient beauties and how cultural memory continues in artistic forms—so, time to plan a koto concert!