Opgevouwen futon 1857

Mori Ippô made this print of a folded futon in Japan in the 19th century. Look closely, and you can see how it offers a glimpse into the cultural values of the time. During the Edo period, when Ippô was alive, Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate, a military dictatorship that enforced a strict social hierarchy and isolationist policies. This print, with its focus on everyday domestic life, reflects the increasing importance of the merchant class and their embrace of a more urban, consumerist culture. The futon, a symbol of comfort and rest, becomes an object of aesthetic contemplation. But the print also speaks to the vibrant artistic scene of the time. It reminds us that the image is always contingent on social and institutional contexts. We can deepen our understanding by exploring Edo-period literature, social histories, and the biographies of artists like Ippô.