Twee waaiers 1700 - 1750

Tachibana Morikuni created this woodblock print, "Two Fans," during the Edo period in Japan. It was a time of relative peace and isolation, marked by the flourishing of arts and culture under the Tokugawa shogunate. The print, divided into two fan shapes, depicts scenes from daily life and folklore. On the left, we see figures in traditional dress, possibly nobles, near a staircase, evoking a sense of social hierarchy and formality. The right fan portrays a more whimsical scene with a figure carrying what appear to be treasures, reminiscent of folk tales and legends. Woodblock prints like these were not just decorative; they reflected and shaped societal values, as they offer glimpses into the lives, beliefs, and stories that mattered to people of the Edo period. Through Morikuni's eyes, we see a world where social order and imaginative storytelling coexist, inviting us to reflect on our own place within the narratives we inherit and create.