Courtisanes in een kamer 1804

Kitagawa Utamaro created this diptych, "Courtesans in a Room," using woodblock printing, a popular and affordable medium in Japan. Made during the Edo period, this print offers a glimpse into the lives of courtesans and their attendants. Their elaborate hairstyles, kimonos, and the room's decor point to a world of entertainment and pleasure. But this image is more than just a snapshot of daily life. It provides insight into the rigid social structure of the time, where class and status dictated every aspect of life, and the pleasure industry provided an escape from social constraints. Utamaro's work invites us to consider the social conditions that shaped this art. By researching period documents, costume histories, and accounts of the pleasure districts, we can better understand the complex interplay of art, commerce, and social life in Edo-period Japan.