Treasured Admonitions to Young Women (Jijo hokun onna Imagawa) c. 1784

Torii Kiyonaga made this woodblock print titled ‘Treasured Admonitions to Young Women’ in Japan sometime in the late 18th century. We see two women disembarking a river boat, observed by the boatman. Known as ‘ukiyo-e’, these prints gained popularity during the Edo period, reflecting the era’s urban culture and the rise of a merchant class with disposable income. Kiyonaga was a leading artist in this genre, celebrated for his images of beautiful women, or ‘bijin-ga.’ The print's composition, with elegant figures set against a serene landscape, evokes a sense of harmony and order, echoing the Confucian ideals of social propriety. It’s worth noting that the ‘floating world’ depicted in ukiyo-e prints was itself a constructed space, shaped by the political and economic forces of the time. By studying the material culture of the Edo period, including fashion, literature, and theater, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social context in which this print was created and consumed. Art, in this sense, becomes a window into the past, offering insights into the values, beliefs, and aspirations of a bygone era.