Monkey Dolls 1800

Katsushika Hokusai made this print of monkey dolls, using woodblock printing techniques, in Japan, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. This image reflects the Edo period's playful engagement with popular culture and folklore. Dolls, like these monkey figures, were not merely children's toys but were often imbued with symbolic meanings related to protection, fertility, and good fortune. Woodblock prints such as this one played a crucial role in disseminating cultural trends and artistic styles to a broad audience. To truly understand this print, we might consider the social function of dolls in Edo society, or the role of printmaking in shaping cultural identity and aesthetic preferences. Research into Edo-period folklore, popular festivals, and the economics of print production could shed light on the meanings embedded in this seemingly simple image.