Love Revealed c. 1768 - 1770

Suzuki Harunobu’s “Love Revealed,” created sometime between 1765 and 1770, is a woodblock print that offers us a glimpse into Edo-period Japan, a time of relative peace, economic growth, and flourishing arts. This print, like many *ukiyo-e*, or "pictures of the floating world", often depicted pleasure quarters and the lives of courtesans and their patrons. However, Harunobu elevated the genre by focusing on everyday life and relationships with a gentle, refined touch. The figures here are not just bodies but are also rendered as individuals with emotional complexity. The *ukiyo-e* tradition often reflected the shifting societal values of the time and the rising merchant class. This print, with its intimate portrayal of love and domesticity, allowed viewers to consider love beyond the established norms. The sensuality of this image is undeniable. It invites us to consider the ways in which desire, affection, and intimacy were negotiated and expressed within the social constraints of the Edo period.