Mrs. Tō 1770 - 1790

This print, made by Isoda Koryūsai, depicts Mrs. Tō with two attendants in what seems to be an intimate scene. Dominating the backdrop are the peonies, symbols of wealth, honor and masculine beauty, that bloom fully—an allegory for transient beauty and the fleeting nature of life. One might recall similar floral motifs adorning the works of the Impressionists, where flowers also encapsulate the transient nature of beauty and the ephemeral quality of existence. The figures, arranged in a pyramidal composition, echo classical themes of familial bonds and maternal care. The way the child tugs at the woman's robe speaks to the psychological dynamic between mother and child. Gestures like these resonate across cultures and time, revealing deep-seated emotional and subconscious connections between people. These images, like dreams, resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, linking us to the past.