Usuyuki: The Kogo Scene (Usuyuki Kogo no dan), from the series "Famous Scenes from Japanese Puppet Plays (Yamato irotake)" c. 1705 - 1706

"Usuyuki: The Kogo Scene", a woodblock print by Okumura Masanobu, invites us into the world of Japanese puppet plays, or Bunraku, popular in the early 18th century. It is a scene of encounter and perhaps, of longing. A woman, Usuyuki, mounted on horseback, is approached by another, Kogo. We feel the tension between the expectation for women to be virtuous and the reality of their complex lives, often constrained by social norms yet filled with emotional depth. Consider the artistry in the delicate lines that depict the women’s robes, each pattern perhaps signifying status, identity, or the ephemeral nature of beauty. As viewers, we’re positioned to witness an intimate moment, made public through performance. This interplay between the personal and the performative resonates with enduring questions about identity and representation. The print reminds us that art can serve as both a mirror reflecting societal expectations and a window into the emotional lives of individuals navigating those expectations.