Geschenk met acer bladeren c. 1850 - 1855

Tanaka Shutei created this print, "Geschenk met acer bladeren", sometime between his birth in 1810 and his death in 1858. It’s an image that speaks to the formalized exchange of gifts in 19th-century Japan. The print depicts a gift box adorned with a floral motif and filled with what seems to be a heap of carefully arranged maple leaves. The delicate lines and muted colors evoke a sense of refined elegance, reflecting the cultural emphasis on aesthetics and etiquette during the Edo period. We see this in the floral motif, the color scheme, and the artist’s signature itself. Understanding the social structures of the time, including the hierarchies and customs surrounding gift-giving, is essential for interpreting this artwork. To get a better idea of the culture of gift giving, we could look at other contemporary artwork, as well as conduct textual research, examining etiquette manuals and literary accounts. Through this, we can understand how art is contingent on social and institutional context.