Spiegel van Edo 1787

Masayoshi created this woodblock printed book in Japan, sometime between 1750 and 1825. The cover shows a series of stylized birds surrounding a title cartouche. The title, ‘Spiegel van Edo,’ suggests a reflection on the city of Edo, now Tokyo. Edo-period Japan was characterized by relative peace and prosperity under the Tokugawa shogunate. Woodblock printing flourished during this time, becoming a major medium for disseminating information and art. The book itself, as a relatively accessible medium, played a role in shaping cultural identity and reflecting the social values of the time. To fully understand this work, historians might consult collections of prints and books from the Edo period, as well as social and economic histories of Japan. The meaning of this image is very much rooted in its cultural and institutional context.