Doosje(?) 1859

This print of a decorated fan with calligraphy was produced by Kanko in Japan. The fan in this image acts as a signifier of social status, being a common fashion accessory among the elite in Japanese society. What is more interesting is what the inscriptions might be trying to tell us about the culture of the time. The text and the imagery might create meanings through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. Does the artwork comment on the social structures of its own time? Is it self-consciously conservative or progressive? Does it critique the institutions of art? To fully understand this artwork we would need to investigate the meanings and social context of the calligraphy. By studying the social and institutional contexts of this and similar artworks, we can better understand the role of the artist, the function of the art, and the social relations that it reflects and shapes.