Vijf edellieden en een dienaar op weg naar een picknick 1673 - 1677

Hishikawa Moronobu created this print, "Five Noblemen and a Servant on the Way to a Picnic," using woodblock printing techniques during the Edo period in Japan. Moronobu, who came from a family of textile designers, significantly shaped the Ukiyo-e art movement, which translates to "pictures of the floating world". This print offers a glimpse into the leisurely pursuits of the upper class. It simultaneously reflects the rigid social hierarchy of Edo society. With its delicate lines and composition, the artwork romanticizes the lives of the elite while subtly reminding us of the vast disparities within Japanese society. The figures are depicted with a certain elegance, yet their identities are somewhat obscured. This invites us to consider the complex relationship between individual identity and social roles within a feudal context. How might the experience of leisure and freedom differ across social strata?