Daisies and Two Makimono 1790 - 1810

Kitao Shigemasa created this print, Daisies and Two Makimono, with ink and color on paper. This work is an example of Ukiyo-e prints that, from the 17th through 19th centuries, captured the everyday life and leisure activities of Japan’s floating world. Here we see a still life of daisies and two makimono, or handscrolls, that were popular as a form of painting and calligraphy, often presented to display a patron’s literary and artistic taste. We can appreciate how Japanese visual culture elevated not just the artwork but also the social institutions that supported it. This print reflects the cultural values of the Edo period, where art and literature were closely tied to social status. Understanding the significance of these details requires a careful study of Edo-period society and its customs. Through careful art historical research, we can better understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production and the role of art in reflecting and reinforcing social hierarchies.