Vrouwen uit het dorp Ôhara 1805

This woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai depicts women from the village of Ôhara. It's a compelling image as it offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of rural women in 19th-century Japan. Hokusai's composition creates meaning by showing the women carrying large bundles on their heads, possibly firewood or crops. This emphasizes their role as laborers in the agricultural economy. The Ôhara village was known for its women who traveled to Kyoto to sell their goods. Hokusai captures the spirit of their journey and their connection to both rural and urban life. As a historian, to fully understand this artwork, I would delve into the economic conditions of the time, exploring the lives of rural women, and the marketing systems in place that allowed them to participate in the wider economy. Art is, after all, contingent on its social and institutional context.