Fishing, from the series "A Set of Ten Beauties in Flowerlike Styles (Enshoku hana fuzoku ju awase)" c. 1782

Torii Kiyonaga created this woodblock print titled ‘Fishing’ as part of a series in Japan sometime in the late 18th century. It offers a window into the leisure activities of women in the Edo period and engages with established artistic conventions. Kiyonaga’s work reflects the Ukiyo-e style, which flourished during a time of economic growth and relative peace. This genre often depicted scenes of everyday life, including the floating world of entertainment and pleasure. Prints like these were not simply artistic expressions; they were commodities in a burgeoning market, catering to the tastes of a new urban middle class. The figures are idealized, their refined features and elegant clothing indicative of the values placed on beauty and status. Understanding this print requires attention to the social structures of the time, including the role of women, the influence of the merchant class, and the development of a distinct urban culture. By exploring period literature, fashion trends, and economic data, we can gain deeper insights into the world that produced this image.