Evening Faces 1835 - 1856

Utagawa Kuniyoshi created this woodblock print called "Evening Faces" in Japan during the 1800s. The print depicts a woman walking through a snowstorm with a dog beside her, birds flying above and calligraphy panels in the top corners. Kuniyoshi was a leading printmaker in the Ukiyo-e style. The Ukiyo-e aesthetic, with its focus on the transient nature of life, gained popularity during the Edo period, when Japan experienced economic growth and the rise of a merchant class. The presence of calligraphy and literary references suggests an audience familiar with classical texts. The woman's attire and the presence of the dog indicate a certain level of social status. The print encapsulates elements of Japanese society from fashion and social class to the appreciation of literature. Further study of Edo-period culture, the Ukiyo-e movement, and Kuniyoshi's other works will provide a deeper understanding of this print. It's a reminder that art is a product of its time, shaped by the social and cultural forces.