Entertainer and Her Attendant in Front of Matsumoto-ya c. 1768

Suzuki Harunobu made this woodblock print called "Entertainer and Her Attendant in Front of Matsumoto-ya". This print, made in Japan, reflects the social structure of the Edo period. Harunobu captured the fleeting beauty and refined culture of the pleasure districts. Note the elegant depiction of women and idealized settings which reveal much about the era's aesthetic values and the lives of those in the entertainment industry. The print’s artistry elevates a seemingly mundane scene, but we need to consider the political and economic context to fully understand its implications. The floating world was a product of its time, reflecting the aspirations and diversions of a merchant class. The institutions of art, such as printmaking studios, were integral to disseminating these images. To further explore this, investigate the social history of the pleasure quarters and the economics of the woodblock print industry. Doing so allows us to interpret this art as a complex reflection of its cultural and institutional origins.