Rules for the Department of Young Ladies (Shōgaku Joreishiki zukai) c. late 19th century

Editor: This is Adachi Ginkō’s "Rules for the Department of Young Ladies." I'm struck by how the scene depicts the domestic sphere, but also seems to formal. What do you see in this print? Curator: Notice how the production of the woodblock itself is crucial. The carving and printing, the division of labor, reflects the social hierarchy displayed within the image itself. How does the materiality of the print, its accessibility as a reproduced object, challenge notions of elite culture? Editor: That's a fascinating point. I hadn't considered how the print's production mirrors the social structures it depicts. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: Consider also the consumption of such images. Who was the intended audience, and how does this print serve to reinforce or question the prescribed roles for women?