The Sixth Month (Rokugatsu), from the series "Popular Customs of the Twelve Months (Fuzoku juni ko)" c. 1780 - 1801

Katsukawa Shunchō made this woodblock print, “The Sixth Month”, in Japan as part of a series on popular customs. This image encapsulates the leisurely pursuits of women within the social hierarchy of the late 18th century. The scene depicts women engaged in activities associated with refinement and culture, such as reading and preparing incense. This print offers a glimpse into the lives of women within a particular social stratum, likely courtesans or women of leisure, reflecting the values and aesthetics of their time. Woodblock prints like this one played a crucial role in disseminating cultural ideals and social norms. The print provides insights into the types of leisure activities deemed appropriate for women of a certain class, the objects that surrounded them, and the spaces they occupied. Historians study prints such as this one, along with other visual and textual sources, to reconstruct a more complete picture of the social and cultural landscape of Edo-period Japan.