Print 1786 - 1854

This print, currently residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was created by Utagawa Kunisada, a leading designer of ukiyo-e woodblock prints in Japan during the 19th century. Kunisada lived and worked during a period of significant social and economic change in Japan. His art provides insights into the cultural values, gender roles, and the popular entertainment of the Edo period. Kunisada’s prints often capture the likenesses of Kabuki actors, geishas, and fashionable women, reflecting the cultural emphasis on beauty, performance, and social identity. In this print, Kunisada presents a woman adorned in a flower patterned kimono, holding a fan in her hand. Her poise and elegant garments signal a woman of status and style. Kunisada developed an alternative narrative by elevating the status of women in Japanese society. Consider how the artwork encourages us to reflect on the complex interplay between representation, identity, and social expectations in 19th-century Japan.