Rijsthoning uit Horinouchi 1864

Utagawa Kunisada created this woodblock print titled ‘Rijsthoning uit Horinouchi’. During the Edo period in Japan, when Kunisada was working, there was a rigid social hierarchy which dictated many aspects of daily life. This print captures a scene that reflects the class divisions of the time. The central figure, likely a woman of high social standing, is carried in a kago, a type of palanquin, by two laborers. While the print appears to simply depict a means of transportation, it really underscores the privilege enjoyed by certain members of society and the labor upon which it depended. Kunisada’s work captures this complex interplay, showing how individuals navigated their roles within a hierarchical society. The artist does not overtly critique the social order but invites us to reflect on these dynamics. Ultimately, this print makes us consider the lives of those whose stories are often untold, those who literally carried the weight of society on their shoulders.