Old Man and Woman 1658 - 1716

Ogata Kōrin created this ink and color on paper painting, titled Old Man and Woman, during the Edo period in Japan. Kōrin’s painting invites us to consider the lives of those often unseen – the working class. In a culture that revered the refined aesthetics of the aristocracy, he turns our gaze towards the quiet dignity of labor. We see an elderly couple taking a moment of rest under a tree. But there is something more here: a sense of shared history, of lives intertwined through labor and companionship. What stories do they tell each other? Kōrin, who was born into a wealthy merchant family, broke with artistic conventions of the time. In that sense, he wasn't just painting a picture; he was making a statement about who deserves to be seen and valued. It’s a testament to the power of art to challenge social norms and give voice to the marginalized.