Courtesans Conversing through a Mosquito Net c. 1782

Torii Kiyonaga created this woodblock print titled ‘Courtesans Conversing through a Mosquito Net’, offering a glimpse into the intimate lives of women in 18th-century Japan. Kiyonaga's work emerges during the Edo period, a time of economic growth and strict social hierarchy, particularly for women. Here we see the enclosed, domestic sphere that defined much of women's lives, especially those in the entertainment districts. The mosquito net isn't just a practical item, but a symbol of the barriers and confines within which these women lived and related. The courtesans aren't just figures of beauty; they represent complex intersections of class and gender. The women in Kiyonaga’s prints appear healthy and strong and are often seen interacting with children, challenging conventional representations of women in art. This work invites us to consider the quiet moments of connection and conversation that occurred even within the constraints of the era. It reflects both the limitations and the resilience of women navigating their identities in a structured society.