Ladies Sewing (Kijo saihō no zu) 1887

This is "Ladies Sewing," a woodblock print by Adachi Ginkō. It captures a moment of cultural transition with women dressed in Western-style gowns, deeply engaged in the craft of sewing. See the sewing machine? It's more than a tool; it's a symbol of modernity and progress. The act of sewing itself, across cultures and centuries, symbolizes creation and domesticity. Consider, for example, how the Greek Fates spun the threads of life. This motif also appears in medieval tapestries of noble women with their embroidery, and in modern art that expresses women's work. Such representation speaks to a collective memory, the psychological comfort and stability found in domestic activities that are passed down through generations. Yet, here in Ginkō’s print, these activities signal a shift. With the introduction of Western fashion, Japanese women take on a new identity, engaging the past with an eye to the future.