Blindemannetje spelen 1792 - 1796

"Blind Man's Bluff" was created by Torii Kiyonaga in the late 18th century as a woodblock print. Kiyonaga, working during the Edo period, captured the daily life and leisure activities of the emerging merchant class of Japan. This print depicts women playing a game of blind man's bluff, a scene that provides a glimpse into the social lives of women in this era, where such games allowed for interaction and merriment within certain social boundaries. The women’s elaborate kimonos and hairstyles indicate their social status, while the setting—a well-appointed residence—suggests a life of relative comfort and privilege. Kiyonaga's work often celebrated the beauty and grace of women, yet it also subtly reflected the confined roles they occupied within society. The joy of the game is palpable, but so is the sense of structured existence, a reminder of the complex interplay between freedom and constraint in the lives of these women. Through such images, Kiyonaga invites us to consider the nuances of gender, class, and social interaction in Edo-period Japan.