Sneeuwballen gooien c. 1825

Editor: This is "Sneeuwballen gooien", or "Throwing Snowballs," a woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada from around 1825, at the Rijksmuseum. It's quite a lively scene, isn't it? I’m struck by how the figures interact with the landscape. How would you interpret this work? Curator: Well, I see here the production of image meeting the reproduction of leisure. The medium itself – the woodblock print, or Ukiyo-e – was a consumer product, readily available. These prints democratized art; think about the labour involved in carving the blocks, the multiple impressions, and distribution to the masses. Editor: So you're saying that it's not just about the scene depicted, but about how it was made and consumed? Curator: Precisely! Consider the economics of Ukiyo-e: artisans creating images that meet a rising demand for images of daily life. These prints allowed people to purchase a piece of art, depicting – perhaps – their own leisure activities, like this snowball fight. Notice how the delicate rendering contrasts with the robust, physical activity in the foreground. How does that juxtaposition speak to you? Editor: I hadn't really thought about the materiality of it. That really highlights the artistry inherent in even popular art forms. I guess I was too focused on the "fine art" aspect. Curator: Exactly! What we traditionally separate as 'high art' from ‘low art’ is blurred when you examine the means of production, the access, and its cultural impact. This piece captures a specific time in the development of consumer culture, doesn't it? Editor: Yes, looking at it this way gives me a deeper understanding of the society that produced it. Thanks!