Album of Landscape Paintings by Ichiro Yashima 1823

This album of landscape paintings was made by Yashima Gakutei, in Japan, during the 19th Century. Looking at the image on the left, we see what appears to be a commoner navigating a small boat through a marshy landscape. The other image is of an indoor scene of leisure that would have been read as an obvious contrast to the outdoor setting of the first image. It is important to remember that during the Edo period, of which Yashima was a part, the Tokugawa Shogunate enforced a rigid social hierarchy. The military class sat at the top, with farmers, artisans, and merchants occupying the lower rungs. This art provides a subtle commentary on social class. To better understand this work, it would be useful to consult historical texts detailing the social and economic conditions of 19th-century Japan, including records of artistic patronage and the circulation of images. This kind of research would provide deeper insight into the public role of art.