Geisha and Her Maid Carrying a Shamisen Box c. 1781

Torii Kiyonaga’s “Geisha and Her Maid Carrying a Shamisen Box” was made using woodblock printing, a quintessential technique of the Edo period. The work’s linear quality and flat blocks of color are an index of this process. Woodblock printing involves carving an image into a block of wood, inking the surface, and then pressing paper onto it. Each color requires a separate block. The registration marks on the sides allowed for precise layering, creating depth and detail. This print exemplifies ‘ukiyo-e’ or ‘pictures of the floating world,’ a genre that captured the transient pleasures of urban life. Kiyonaga’s figures, with their elongated proportions, embody a refined elegance. The choice of subject matter, depicting a geisha and her maid, offers a glimpse into the hierarchies of labor and leisure. While seemingly simple, the production of ukiyo-e prints involved the collaboration of artists, block carvers, printers, and publishers, each playing a crucial role in the final outcome. By examining the materials and processes, we can understand the social context and skilled labor embedded in the production of this elegant artwork.