Young Lady Looking through Door at Her Kamuro (Little Servant) who is Asleep on the Floor 1725 - 1770

This woodblock print was created by Suzuki Harunobu in Japan in the mid-18th century. It depicts a moment of everyday life, a young woman observing her sleeping servant. This image offers a glimpse into the rigid social hierarchy of Edo-period Japan. The contrast between the standing woman and the sleeping servant hints at the power dynamics at play within the household. The setting itself, with its tatami mats and sliding doors, speaks to specific cultural practices and domestic spaces. Harunobu's work often idealized women and domesticity. It's important to consider how the artist's prints circulated and were consumed. Were they aimed at a specific audience, reinforcing certain social norms? Or did they offer a subtle critique of those norms? To better understand this print, we might consult period literature, social histories, and even architectural plans to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural context in which it was created and consumed.