Vrouw, de handen warmend bij een hibachi 1859

This woodblock print, showing a woman warming her hands by a hibachi, was made by Utagawa Kunisada, a leading artist in 19th-century Japan. Kunisada was a master of ukiyo-e, a genre that flourished in the Edo period, and often depicted scenes of everyday life, landscapes, and popular entertainment. Here, the woman's elegant pose and refined attire suggest a certain social status, while the hibachi, a traditional Japanese brazier, evokes the comforts of domestic life. The print reflects the cultural values and social hierarchies of its time. The popularity of ukiyo-e prints also played a role in shaping cultural tastes and artistic trends. The floating world of Ukiyo-e was a powerful force in the making of a popular culture through the institutions of art and commerce. To fully understand Kunisada's print, we can consult historical records, literature, and other visual sources to gain a deeper appreciation of its cultural significance.