Dromende courtisane 1845 - 1850

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print, "Dreaming Courtesan," during the Edo period in Japan, a time of relative peace and economic growth, but also strict social hierarchy. The artwork depicts a scene with layered realities. A courtesan, standing above, is juxtaposed with the image of a sleeping woman below. The courtesan, adorned with a sword, stands upright, while smoke rises to connect her with the woman below. Here we see how Hiroshige engages with the complex realities of women in the Edo period, where societal expectations and personal desires often clashed. Courtesans, while marginalized, also wielded cultural influence. This print invites reflection on the dreams, realities, and the intertwined nature of identity and social roles during a transformative period in Japanese history. It leaves us to ponder the aspirations and constraints faced by women, and the subtle narratives woven into the fabric of everyday life.