Scene in a Tea House 1805

Teisai Hokuba produced this woodblock print depicting a scene in a tea house in Japan, some time between the late 18th and mid-19th centuries. The print offers a glimpse into the social life of the Edo period. The tea house depicted here would have functioned as a place of leisure and social exchange. Note the attire and the hairstyles of the women: their elaborate kimonos and carefully styled hair reflect the fashion of the time and signal their social status. The lanterns, the tea set, and the details of the interior architecture all contribute to the image of a culture that values refinement and hospitality. The print also suggests a society with a complex class structure, where leisure and refined entertainment are available to some but not all. Historical research into the Edo period, including studies of its art, literature, and social customs, can shed further light on this print and its cultural significance. The image is a reminder that all art is embedded in a specific time and place.