Shōtenyama 1769 - 1789

Torii Kiyonaga's Shōtenyama, made in Japan during the Edo period, is a woodblock print that captures the essence of ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world." During this time, the rising merchant class sought images reflecting their own pursuit of pleasure and leisure. Kiyonaga, breaking from tradition, portrayed women not as courtesans but as elegant, statuesque figures enjoying everyday life. Here, we see women in refined kimonos pausing on a stroll. Their sophisticated attire and leisurely demeanor indicate a life of privilege, yet the print also offers us a glimpse into the restricted roles of women in Edo society. Confined to the domestic sphere, their beauty and grace became commodities, shaping their identities and experiences. Kiyonaga's masterful use of line and color invites us to contemplate the complex interplay between pleasure, privilege, and constraint in the lives of these women.