Three Cartouches: Footman, Courtesan and Rising Sun 1800 - 1820

Kubo Shunman created this print using ink and color on paper, featuring three distinct cartouches. The print offers a glimpse into the floating world of Edo-period Japan, a society marked by rigid class structures and burgeoning urban culture. We see representations of different social strata: a footman, a courtesan, and the rising sun as an auspicious symbol. Prints like this weren't merely decorative. The meticulous rendering of fashion, the subtle cues of status, and the layering of literary references all speak to a sophisticated audience keenly aware of social codes. Shunman seems to both reflect and comment on the social structures of his time. He critiques the institutions of art with each image, reflecting Japan's political, economic, and cultural forces. By researching Edo-period literature, fashion, and social histories, we can better understand these images and the world they reflect. The meaning of art shifts according to its social and institutional context.