Kaft van Negai no itoguchi 1799

This is the cover of Kaft van Negai no itoguchi, made by Kitagawa Utamaro using woodblock print. The Japanese Edo period was an era of relative peace and stability under the Tokugawa shogunate, leading to flourishing urban culture and arts. Utamaro was a leading artist of ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world," a genre that often depicted courtesans, actors, and scenes from daily life. This book cover, now held in the Rijksmuseum, is a portal into that world. The text gives information about its author and purpose, which can be explored through library and archival research. This can provide valuable insights into the social and artistic milieu in which it was created. The materiality of the cover itself tells a story of the book's journey through time and the traces of human interaction. By examining its visual elements and historical context, we can gain a deeper appreciation of its cultural significance.