['Flames of passion in the heart', 'Compasisons with the five elements'] 1852 - 1858

Utagawa Kunisada created this woodblock print, titled 'Flames of passion in the heart' sometime before 1865. This print comes from a time when Japan was undergoing significant social and cultural shifts, with the rise of a merchant class and the flourishing of urban culture. Kunisada, deeply embedded in this world, captured the emotional complexities of the human experience, particularly those of women in the pleasure districts. Here we see a woman, likely a courtesan, her face painted with care, her elaborate kimono hinting at her profession. Yet, it is her gaze that arrests us—a mix of longing and introspection. Kunisada masterfully plays with the viewer's perspective, inviting us into her intimate world. The 'flames of passion' alluded to in the title speak to the intense, often conflicted, emotions at play in these women's lives, navigating their desires within the confines of societal expectations. Kunisada's work transcends mere representation, becoming a poignant commentary on the lived experiences of women in 19th-century Japan.