Sketchbook of One Hundred Women 1814

Aikawa Minwa created this woodblock printed book, "Sketchbook of One Hundred Women," in Japan during the late Edo period. This book presents a vision of women's lives and roles within Japanese society. The image shows two women weaving. Such scenes offer insight into the division of labor and the economic activities of women in this period. Woodblock prints, like this one, served as a medium through which cultural values and social norms were disseminated and visualized. It is interesting to consider the role of institutions, like printmaking workshops, in shaping the representation of women and the circulation of these images among different social classes. Were they idealized visions, or reflections of lived experiences? To fully understand this artwork, historians consult a variety of sources, including social histories, economic records, and studies of popular culture. Through interdisciplinary research, we can better appreciate the complex interplay between art, society, and the dynamics of gender roles in 19th-century Japan.