The Hour of the Monkey 

This is ‘The Hour of the Monkey’ by Kitagawa Utamaro, a woodblock print made in Japan in the late 18th century. It depicts three women in an interior scene, likely courtesans preparing for their evening engagements. The print offers a glimpse into the licensed pleasure districts of Edo-period Japan, a world of strict social hierarchies and elaborate rituals. Utamaro’s prints, known as ukiyo-e, were popular among the merchant class and served as both entertainment and social commentary. They provide a window into a complex, often contradictory society where pleasure and commerce intersected with rigid social structures. By studying these images alongside contemporary accounts and government records, we can begin to understand the lives of the women depicted and the social forces that shaped their world. The meaning of the artwork is contingent on its social and institutional context.