Teugel wijk 1822

This print was created by Katsushika Hokusai, a master of ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world." Note the central image of a fan displaying a scene of revelry with cranes, auspicious symbols of longevity and good fortune in Japanese culture. Consider how the fan itself acts as a portal, framing the ephemeral pleasures of the Yoshiwara district, an enclosed licensed red-light district in Edo. Fans are not merely decorative; they are tools for storytelling. The crane motif is a key symbol here. While cranes are revered throughout East Asia, their depiction alongside human figures emphasizes the longing for purity and grace amidst earthly delights. This recurs in diverse contexts, from ancient Greek vase paintings portraying idealized figures to Renaissance art depicting divine intervention. The artist captures a tension between the sacred and the secular, echoing the collective human yearning for transcendence. This desire is not linear but cyclical, constantly resurfacing and evolving.