The Eighth Month, from the series "Twelve Months in the South (Minami juni ko)" c. 1784

Torii Kiyonaga made this woodblock print, "The Eighth Month," as part of a series depicting life in the southern quarters of Edo period Japan. Kiyonaga's prints offer a glimpse into the licensed pleasure districts, spaces operating outside everyday social norms, yet still shaped by the prevailing cultural values and economic realities of Japan. The women depicted are likely courtesans, and the image gives us insight into the rituals and interactions that defined their world. The men provide musical accompaniment and conversation. Prints like these also provide insight into the world of ukiyo-e artists, their relationship with publishers, and the networks through which their art reached a broad public. Looking at the visual codes of dress, gesture, and setting, we can begin to reconstruct the social scripts and power dynamics at play here. Art historians consult a variety of sources, from government records and literary texts to fashion plates and theater programs to build a more complete understanding of this period. It is through this contextualization that we can understand the complex and often contradictory meanings embedded in these seemingly simple images.