Print 1700 - 1735

This print was made in Japan in the first half of the 18th century by the artist Yuko. It is made using woodblock printing, which was by this time a well-established commercial art. It shows two women on a balcony reading a scroll. In this period, the Tokugawa Shogunate imposed strict class hierarchies and sumptuary laws. Woodblock prints played a role in both reinforcing and subverting these hierarchies. On the one hand, there were government-approved prints of moralistic and historical subjects. On the other hand, artists created prints of the entertainment districts, catering to the tastes of the merchant classes. These prints often featured courtesans and Kabuki actors, who became celebrities in their own right. What kind of subject does this print portray? What might the women be reading? Is there any hint of commentary on Japanese society at the time? The answers lie in the historical record. By examining other prints, literary sources, and government documents, we can better understand the complex social and cultural context in which this image was made and consumed.