Girl Cooling on Veranda c. 1772s

Isoda Koryūsai created this woodblock print called "Girl Cooling on Veranda" in the late 18th century during the Edo period in Japan. The woman depicted, possibly a courtesan, stands in a moment of quiet repose, holding a fan, with a distant landscape visible behind her. During the Edo period, there were rigid social hierarchies and norms. Koryūsai, who was both a samurai and an artist, often depicted women of the pleasure districts. His artwork gives us a glimpse into their world, where beauty and artistic expression were highly valued, yet freedom was limited. What strikes me most is the intimacy of the scene, the woman’s gaze is averted, and her posture is relaxed. She seems caught in a moment of contemplation. Koryūsai's work invites us to reflect on the complexities of identity and representation. The print serves as a reminder of the social structures that both shaped and confined women's lives during this era.