Picknicking and enjoying tea i nthe hills at Ueno, Edo 1790

Kitagawa Utamaro made this woodblock print showing people picknicking and enjoying tea in the hills at Ueno, Edo. The print offers a glimpse into the leisure activities of the Edo period. Here, the act of picnicking becomes a stage for social interaction and display. The figures are arranged to highlight their fashionable attire and leisurely pursuits. Utamaro uses visual cues to convey social status and cultural values, reflecting the hierarchical society of Edo-era Japan. The print suggests a world where social harmony and aesthetic appreciation were highly valued, yet this was also a society rigidly stratified by class. To fully understand such artworks, we delve into Edo-period social structures, fashion trends, and the economics of leisure. Research into the history of Ueno Park and its role in public life would offer a deeper understanding of the print’s cultural context. Art, as we see, is never created in a vacuum.