Bamboo Pole Vendor c. 1830s

Yamada Hōgyoku created this woodblock print, titled *Bamboo Pole Vendor*, in 19th-century Japan. The artwork offers us a glimpse into the life of a common laborer during the Edo period. Hōgyoku’s work can be viewed through the lens of class and labor. This was a time when Japanese society was highly stratified, with merchants and artisans occupying a lower rung in the social hierarchy. The vendor's strenuous posture and the weight of his load speak volumes about the physical demands placed on the working class. It invites us to reflect on the lives of those whose daily toil supported the economic structure of the era. Hōgyoku challenges us to consider the value and dignity of labor, and the human cost often associated with it.