Album of Fan-Shaped Paintings of Figures, Birds and Flowers 1636 - 1713

This is a section of Kano Tsunenobu's "Album of Fan-Shaped Paintings of Figures, Birds and Flowers", made during the Edo period in Japan. Tsunenobu belonged to the Kano school of painting, which was the dominant style of Japanese painting for centuries. His work reflects the cultural values and social hierarchies of the Edo period. Looking closely, you will notice a distinct class structure: samurai, courtly figures, and entertainers all co-exist, but are clearly differentiated. The lighthearted play depicted here can be seen as a reflection of the relative peace and prosperity Japan enjoyed during this time. Despite this apparent harmony, there were rigid social expectations. Note how identity is carefully constructed through costume and gesture: the samurai maintain composure, while the entertainers are more animated. The artist’s focus on leisure and entertainment provides a glimpse into the ways in which identity and social roles were both performed and perceived. The monkeys and court jester-type figure hints at the subversion of rigid hierarchies with the introduction of play. This album page, and the scenes it captures, reflect both the joys and the constraints of life in Edo period Japan.