The Salt Maidens Murusame and Matsukaze 1776 - 1796

Torii Kiyonaga created this woodblock print, ‘The Salt Maidens Murusame and Matsukaze’, sometime in the late 18th century. It depicts two women carrying buckets, presumably filled with seawater, which was then processed to extract salt. The image evokes the theme of labor, but does so through the lens of idealized beauty. The women, likely based on popular actresses or courtesans, are represented in fashionable clothing. The print’s elegant lines and muted colors, combined with the naturalistic depiction of the landscape, reflect the prevailing aesthetics of the Edo period in Japan. During this era, the merchant class grew in power, and they had a major influence on the cultural institutions. Ukiyo-e prints like this one were specifically marketed to this growing urban audience. As an art historian, I would want to explore the social and economic conditions that shaped the production and consumption of these prints, and consider how images of women were circulated in Japanese society. Looking at publications and merchant records from the time could reveal a great deal.