Vrouw die zijderupsen kweekt before 1900

This anonymous print depicts a woman raising silkworms, and we can use it to explore Japan's economic and social structures. The print likely dates from the late 19th or early 20th century, a period when Japan was rapidly industrializing and becoming a major exporter of silk. Sericulture, or silk production, was a vital part of the Japanese economy, and it was often women who did much of the labor-intensive work of raising silkworms. The image emphasizes this labor with the prominent display of silkworms, set against the figure of the individual woman. This print is an excellent document for art historians. By consulting archives from the silk industry, census data, and personal accounts, we can develop a richer understanding of the social conditions that shaped artistic production and the politics of imagery in Japan. In this way, the image serves as a starting point for broader investigations.