Cutting the Toenails; the Toilet after the Bath 1742 - 1815

Torii Kiyonaga created this woodblock print titled "Cutting the Toenails; the Toilet after the Bath" in Japan sometime between 1752 and 1815. During the Edo period, Kiyonaga was known for portraying women of the merchant class engaged in everyday life, like here in the depiction of a private, after-bath ritual. What is striking about this image is its tender portrayal of women's quotidian experiences and their bodies. Rather than presenting idealized or eroticized figures, Kiyonaga captures a moment of casual intimacy and self-care. The women here are not goddesses or courtesans, but relatable figures performing the mundane task of personal grooming. In representing the female body so frankly, Kiyonaga challenges traditional representations of women in art. The print suggests that there is beauty and value in the everyday lives of women. Despite the passage of time, the image invites us to reflect on our own rituals of self-care, and the value of representing women's lived experiences with empathy and nuance.