Momiji no ga, from the series "A Fashionable Parody of the Tale of Genji (Furyu yatsushi Genji)" c. 1789 - 1794

Chōbunsai Eishi created this three-panel woodblock print, Momiji no ga, as part of his series "A Fashionable Parody of the Tale of Genji". Eishi, working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, navigated the restrictive sumptuary laws of the Edo period by producing images of fashionable women that subtly alluded to classical literature. This print reimagines a scene from "The Tale of Genji" with contemporary beauties enjoying music and poetry in an autumnal setting. Note the elaborate hairstyles and expensive fabrics, which would have resonated with the merchant class who were gaining economic power but were officially ranked lower than the samurai. The women's elegant leisure belies a complex social reality in which their roles were often circumscribed. The print offers a glimpse into their aesthetic lives, shaped by both artistic expression and social constraints. In this sense, the parody isn't just about fashion, but about the evolving status and representation of women within a changing society.