A Girl Hanging up a Mosquito Net Canopy over Her Bed. 1760 - 1780

Isoda Koryūsai made this woodblock print of a young woman putting up a mosquito net sometime in the late 18th century. The image provides us with a window into the domestic life of Japan's Edo period, as well as the social role of women at the time. Her elegant kimono and elaborate hairstyle tells us that she is probably a member of the merchant class, which was becoming increasingly wealthy and influential during this time. In the context of the era, this print engages with the social structures of its time by portraying a scene of everyday life, suggesting a newfound emphasis on the individual and the domestic sphere. It is neither explicitly conservative nor progressive, but rather offers a glimpse into the changing social dynamics of Japan during this period. As art historians, our understanding of this work comes from researching the social and institutional contexts in which it was produced and consumed, using resources such as historical records, and other cultural artifacts from the time.