Courtisane en kamuro before 1867

Kikugawa Eizan made this woodblock print of a courtesan and her young attendant, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. In Japan, woodblock prints were a popular art form that served a public role, providing affordable images for a wide audience. This print depicts a high-ranking courtesan, or "tayū," and her young apprentice, known as a "kamuro". The tayū is adorned in elaborate clothing and hairstyles, visual codes of her profession and status. During the Edo period in Japan, courtesans were celebrities and fashion icons. Woodblock prints like this one allowed people to admire and emulate the latest trends. This image offers insight into the social hierarchy of the time. By studying the print's composition, colors, and cultural references, and by researching Edo-period customs and the history of the pleasure districts, we can better understand the complex social and cultural forces that shaped this artwork. The role of art, therefore, lies in its ability to reflect and comment on the social structures of its own time.