Looking itchy - The Appearance of a Kept Woman of the Kaei Era 

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print of a courtesan in the Kaei Era. The Kaei Era, spanning from 1848 to 1854, was a time of strict social hierarchies where class and gender dictated much of one's life. Yoshitoshi's work provides us with a glimpse into the life of a kept woman during this period. Here, the woman is not idealized; she is captured in a moment of private discomfort. Yoshitoshi has moved beyond traditional representations to show us an alternative narrative. With bare shoulders and a slight frown, she reaches behind her neck to scratch an itch. In her hand she holds a patterned cloth, perhaps to dab at sweat. This print is part of Yoshitoshi's series, "Thirty-two Aspects of Women", in which he explores women's identities through emotional expression. This intimate portrait allows us to contemplate the emotional and physical realities of women within the rigid social structures of 19th century Japan.