Red c. 1820

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai produced this woodblock print around 1810 in Japan. It gives us a privileged glimpse into the private world of courtesans. Looking closely, we see two women preparing themselves, perhaps for a social engagement. The mirror, the plum blossoms, and the elegant script are all visual codes that would have been easily readable within the highly refined culture of Japan's Edo period. In that time, courtesans like these were celebrities who often played a key role in literature and the arts. They were tastemakers, and as such they were the focus of intense public interest. The very existence of prints like this is bound up with the economic and institutional structures of the time. Woodblock prints were a relatively inexpensive medium, so they could reach a broad audience. Researching the popular art of the Edo period helps us to understand the complex relationship between commerce, art, and celebrity culture.