Two Girls Talking Near the Hibachi (Fire-Pot) 1775 - 1795

Torii Kiyonaga created this woodblock print of two girls talking near the hibachi in the late 18th century. It is an example of Ukiyo-e, a genre of Japanese art that flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries. Ukiyo-e, translated as “pictures of the floating world,” often depict scenes of everyday life, landscapes, and popular entertainment. This artwork reflects the socio-cultural context of the Edo period, a time of economic growth and the rise of a merchant class in Japan. It shows intimate scenes of domestic life, highlighting the importance of family and community. The print also shows an idealized vision of female beauty and domesticity during this time. To further understand this artwork, we might turn to historical documents, literature, and other visual materials from the Edo period to gain deeper insights into the social and cultural values of the time. In this way we can consider the print not only as an aesthetic object but also as a product of its time.