The Hour of the Dog 

Kitagawa Utamaro created this woodblock print, titled "The Hour of the Dog," in Japan during the Edo period. It depicts two women, likely courtesans, one lighting a lantern while the other looks on. Utamaro was a master of the *ukiyo-e* genre, meaning "pictures of the floating world." This art was closely associated with the pleasure districts of Edo, modern Tokyo, and reflected the changing social and economic conditions of the time. Japan was experiencing a period of relative peace and prosperity under the Tokugawa shogunate, and a vibrant urban culture was emerging. *Ukiyo-e* prints were often commissioned by wealthy merchants and served as a form of popular entertainment, much like magazines today. Utamaro's work often focused on the lives and fashions of women, capturing their beauty and elegance. But it also hinted at the complex social dynamics of the pleasure quarters. By examining records from the period, such as diaries, letters, and government documents, we gain a deeper understanding of the world Utamaro depicted and the institutions that shaped it.