Courtesan with Attendants, Boy and Maid, in the Rain Under an Umbrella 1790 - 1810

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai created this Japanese woodblock print depicting a courtesan with attendants, boy, and maid in the rain under an umbrella, sometime in the early 19th century. Woodblock printing is a labour-intensive process that involves carving a design into a block of wood, inking the surface, and then pressing it onto paper. Each color requires a separate block, demanding skill and precision. The fine lines and delicate gradations of color in this print suggest a high level of craftsmanship. The choice of woodblock printing as a medium is significant. In Japan, it was a popular and accessible art form, used to create everything from religious images to advertisements. By employing this technique, Shinsai situates his work within a broader context of mass production and consumption. The print offers insight into the social hierarchy of the time and the lives of those involved in the commercial sex industry. The very act of creating this image, and disseminating it via woodblock printing, speaks to the complex interplay of art, labor, and social dynamics in 19th-century Japan.