Picking Flowers at Kumano Junisha Shrine in Tsunohazu c. late 1780s

This ukiyo-e woodblock print, “Picking Flowers at Kumano Junisha Shrine in Tsunohazu,” by Katsukawa Shunchō, depicts three elegant women in a serene park setting. The scene, set against a backdrop of flowering trees and a traditional Japanese shrine, is characteristic of the Edo period’s vibrant and sophisticated culture. Shunchō, a prominent artist of the Katsukawa school, captures the subtle beauty of these figures through meticulous detail and a vibrant color palette. The artwork is an example of the popular genre of bijin-ga, which focuses on the portrayal of beautiful women. "Picking Flowers at Kumano Junisha Shrine in Tsunohazu" is a testament to Shunchō’s mastery of the ukiyo-e style and offers viewers a glimpse into the lives of fashionable women in 18th-century Japan.