Shuttlecock c. early 1820s

Totoya Hokkei created this print called 'Shuttlecock' using woodblock printing techniques, sometime between 1800 and 1850, an era when Japan's cultural landscape was rich with both tradition and transformation. Here, three women, adorned in kimonos patterned with bold floral designs, are caught in a moment of leisure, playing hanetsuki, a traditional Japanese game similar to badminton. Hokkei situates these figures within the context of the Edo period where the lives of women, especially in the pleasure quarters, were shaped by rigid social expectations. The women's elegant attire and graceful posture speak to the cultivation of beauty and refinement expected of them, yet the act of playing introduces a sense of freedom and camaraderie. It's a tender, transient moment, revealing the complex interplay between societal roles and individual expression. Hokkei invites us to consider the lived experiences of these women.