Hot Springs at Ikaho c. 1768 - 1770

This is "Hot Springs at Ikaho," a woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu, created around the 18th century, depicting an intimate scene in a bathhouse. Consider the steam rising from the bath, a symbol deeply rooted in purification rituals across cultures, from ancient Roman baths to sweat lodges of indigenous tribes. Here, the steam transcends mere cleanliness; it becomes a veil, a liminal space where social norms blur, inviting us to reflect on the interplay between concealment and revelation. The intimate act of bathing has recurred in art, and the voyeurism in the work reminds us of the psychological dimensions of viewing, stirring primal feelings of curiosity. Across centuries and geographies, water, like the serpent, has been a symbol that has resurfaced, undergoing a metamorphosis. So, too, does the idea of cleansing, reinvented and laden with new meaning. This illustrates the cyclical nature of symbols and iconography, reminding us of their non-linear journey through history and cultural memory.