(Prostitute and a Man with Hearth) c. 1825

This woodblock print titled (Prostitute and a Man with Hearth) was created by Eisen, sometime between 1790 and 1848. It offers us a glimpse into the floating world of Japan’s Edo period. The print depicts a courtesan applying makeup, while a man peers over her shoulder. This intimate scene invites consideration of the lives of women in the entertainment districts of the time, whose identities were often complex, navigating social constraints and expectations. Consider the labor involved in maintaining one's appearance; what does it mean to perform for an audience, both within the artwork and beyond it? The artwork subtly challenges us to reflect on the intersections of labor, identity, and gender, prompting a deeper understanding of the social dynamics embedded within these historical images.