Flower Arranging c. 1769

This is a woodblock print called ‘Flower Arranging’ by Kitao Shigemasa, made in Japan sometime between 1739 and 1820. Shigemasa lived during the Edo period, a time of economic growth, strict social order, and the flourishing of the arts. In this print, we see two women engaged in the delicate art of flower arrangement, a practice deeply rooted in Japanese culture and often associated with refinement and grace. But let's think a bit about who has access to such refinement. Shigemasa often depicted the lives of women in the pleasure districts, portraying their humanity and individuality within the confines of their social roles. The act of arranging flowers here can be seen as a form of self-expression and cultural participation, but also as a performance of femininity within a society that prescribed specific roles for women. What does it mean to create beauty within such constraints? Consider the quiet agency these women might possess, finding autonomy in the arrangement of a vase.