Monkey pyramid 1896

Yoshimi Yutaka created this woodblock print titled ‘Monkey pyramid’ sometime during the 19th century. Yutaka was a Japanese artist working during a time of significant social and cultural change in Japan, as the country was beginning to open up to the West after a long period of isolation. The image depicts a pyramid of monkeys, a motif drawn from traditional Japanese folklore and performance. These animals often symbolize different aspects of human society. In this context, the carefully constructed pyramid could reflect the rigid social hierarchies present in Japanese society at the time. The print includes calligraphy which likely adds layers of meaning, perhaps alluding to popular stories or moral lessons associated with monkeys in Japanese culture. The monkeys evoke a sense of wonder and playfulness, but also perhaps hint at the complexities and contradictions inherent in human social structures.