Ogura Imitation of the One Hundred Poems 1846

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print, Ogura Imitation of the One Hundred Poems, which is now held in the Rijksmuseum collection. Hiroshige was working during the Edo period, a time marked by relative peace and the flourishing of the arts, though rigidly stratified social classes persisted. This print invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in Japanese society. The imposing figure of the samurai contrasts with the woman beside him who subtly reaches out to him. The inscription above shows a kneeling figure that reflects the established hierarchy where social roles dictate expectations and limitations. This representation is both a reflection of societal norms and a commentary on the emotional landscape within these constraints. "Ukiyo-e" prints like this captured fleeting moments of everyday life, but they also served to reinforce or question prevailing social and cultural values. Consider how this image reflects the complexities of identity and status within the cultural narrative of 19th-century Japan.