The Syllable Fu c. 1770 - 1773

Katsukawa Shunsho created this woodblock print titled "The Syllable Fu" sometime in the late 18th century. It depicts a scene of two figures, one male and one female, seemingly engaged in a private moment, perhaps a romantic encounter. Prints like this were popular in Japan at the time and were known as ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world." This art movement coincided with the rise of a new merchant class in Japan, eager to spend their money on art. The prints often depicted scenes of urban life, beautiful women, actors, and landscapes. Ukiyo-e prints offered commentary on the shifting social structures of the time, portraying a world where traditional hierarchies were being challenged by new forms of wealth and leisure. To understand prints like this better, art historians consult social and economic records from the period. We examine the publishing industry, the theater, and the fashion trends to contextualize this artwork. Studying these prints gives us a window into the dynamic interplay between art and society in 18th-century Japan.