Print from Series Women's Customs and Manners 1895

This color woodblock print from the series Women's Customs and Manners was designed by Ogata Gekko in Japan toward the end of the 19th century, the Meiji era. It depicts two women in kimono, relaxing on a platform that extends over a body of water. Woodblock prints like this one were part of a thriving commercial print culture during the Meiji period, when Japan opened up to the West and began to modernize rapidly. Prints became a way of both preserving traditions and commenting on the changing social landscape. Here, the figures' elegant clothing and serene poses suggest a continuation of older cultural values, while their presence in a public space reflects women's increasing visibility. Historical context is crucial to understanding art. By researching the printmaking industry and social norms of Meiji-era Japan, we can better understand the complex meanings embedded in works like this. Art historians use a variety of resources, from archival documents to fashion studies, to understand the changing meanings of art.