Hoofdstuk 21 1849 - 1850

This colour woodblock print, ‘Chapter 21’, was created by Utagawa Kunisada. The composition presents an interior scene dominated by strong horizontal and vertical lines that structure the space and the arrangement of figures within it. Note how the use of flattened perspective and bold colour contribute to a decorative, almost theatrical quality. The interplay of lines, colours, and patterns in Kunisada's prints reflects an engagement with the aesthetic and cultural codes of his time, a semiotic system of signs, if you will. The careful arrangement of figures and objects challenges fixed meanings to engage with new ways of thinking about representation. The flatness and stylization aren't merely aesthetic choices; they represent a conscious manipulation of visual language that asks us to reconsider our conventional modes of perception. This pictorial construction invites ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.