Two Geisha Preceded by a Maid Carrying a Lantern 1768 - 1788

Torii Kiyonaga made this woodblock print, *Two Geisha Preceded by a Maid Carrying a Lantern*, in Japan in the late 18th century. It reflects the floating world of the pleasure districts and the social hierarchies within them. Kiyonaga’s print creates meaning through its depiction of fashionable women and their attire, associating them with contemporary social ideals. The art of the floating world, *ukiyo-e*, was closely tied to the culture of Edo period Japan, with its complex class system. Woodblock prints provided a means for artists to comment, often subtly, on the social structures of their time. Here, Kiyonaga presents an image of elegance and refinement that simultaneously reinforces and idealizes the geisha's role in society. To understand this work better, we might look to historical documents that describe the lives of women in Edo Japan and how they were represented in art. By examining the social context, we can better appreciate the complex dynamics between art, culture, and society.