Standing Geisha c. 1748

Ishikawa Toyonobu's ‘Standing Geisha’ is a woodblock print that gives us a glimpse into the floating world of 18th-century Japan. The image presents a geisha, adorned in a meticulously patterned kimono, holding what appears to be a letter or poem. The geisha, a figure of entertainment and artistry, occupied a unique position within the rigid social hierarchy of the Edo period. It's important to remember that while they were celebrated for their talents, they were also subject to strict social constraints, existing within a liminal space between admiration and objectification. The artwork prompts us to consider the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shape artistic production, which can be explored through historical documents, literature, and visual culture, allowing us to understand the multifaceted role of the geisha in Japanese society.