Print 1810 - 1830

This woodblock print, made by Yashima Gakutei, captures a scene of leisure and intellectual pursuit within the context of 19th-century Japan. Gakutei was working in a time of social and cultural change, during the late Edo period, a time marked by relative peace and the flourishing of the arts. We see a group gathered around a learned figure, likely engaged in a poetry reading or literary discussion. This setting reflects the cultural value placed on education and the arts among the elite, but also makes me think about who is included and excluded in this vision of refinement and intellectual exchange. The image emphasizes the experience of privileged leisure, yet it also prompts questions about the representation and roles of women and other marginalized figures within this cultural milieu. What is their access to this education? The print invites us to consider the intersection of art, class, and gender, prompting reflection on the stories told and untold within this delicate scene.