Netsuke of a Female Monkey Holding a Nut while her Baby Crawls on her Back 19th century

Here you can see a netsuke carved from ivory by the artist Masatami. The netsuke depicts a female monkey cradling a nut, while her baby crawls on her back. Netsuke like this one served a practical function in Japanese society; they were toggles used to suspend personal items from the obi, or sash, of a kimono. Beyond its utilitarian purpose, this netsuke offers a window into the complexities of gender roles and maternal identity. The mother monkey is portrayed as nurturing, holding both a nut and her child. Yet, the weight of her responsibilities is palpable. The baby monkey, seemingly unconcerned, adds to her burden. The carving thus speaks to the multifaceted experience of motherhood, capturing both its tenderness and its challenges. As such, it serves as a poignant reflection on the shared human experience of caregiving and the ways in which these roles are embodied and performed.