The Twelfth Month 1757 - 1777

Ishikawa Toyomasa created this woodblock print, "The Twelfth Month," sometime between 1770 and 1790. During the Edo period, artists like Toyomasa navigated the strict social hierarchies and sumptuary laws imposed by the shogunate. Here, inside what looks like a home, a group of figures engage in what appears to be some kind of ritual. Some sweep while others seem to be rolling on top of one another. The seasons in Japan have long held cultural and spiritual significance, influencing everything from agricultural practices to artistic expression. Toyomasa’s composition invites us to consider the relationship between seasonal rituals, social interactions, and individual experience. Notice the woman perched on the veranda overlooking the snow-covered landscape. The interior/exterior boundary complicates traditional representations of women in domestic spaces, offering a nuanced perspective on gender roles, and the cultural significance of seasonal change in Edo period Japan.