Iris Garden at Horikiri Possibly 1852 - 1858

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print titled *Iris Garden at Horikiri.* The print offers us a window into 19th-century Japan, a society steeped in tradition yet on the cusp of modernization. Hiroshige, working within the *ukiyo-e* tradition, which translates to "pictures of the floating world," captures a scene of leisure and beauty. Look at the central figure, a woman adorned in a beautiful kimono with a serene gaze. She's standing on a wooden structure overlooking an iris garden. Consider the historical context: during this era, class distinctions were pronounced, and fashion, like art, served as a marker of status. A woman's attire and demeanor were carefully constructed to convey social standing. The presence of other figures in the iris garden, some with parasols, suggests a public space for socializing and display. The iris garden itself, a curated landscape, reflects a deep appreciation for nature, yet it's nature molded by human hands. Hiroshige masterfully balances natural beauty with the cultural norms of his time. There is a sense of both freedom and constraint, a floating world indeed.