Zes blinde masseurs op een brug. 1803 - 1807

Utagawa Toyokuni I created this woodblock print, “Six Blind Masseurs on a Bridge,” sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. It depicts a group of blind men precariously making their way across a bridge using canes. In Japan, blind people, who were often excluded from other professions, had a long association with massage and acupuncture. They formed guilds that controlled the practice of these trades, creating a unique social niche and subculture. This print captures both the vulnerability and the solidarity of this community. The exaggerated expressions and comical poses invite a lighthearted interpretation, while the men's obvious struggle also suggests a commentary on the hardships faced by marginalized groups. Looking more closely, we might consult historical documents about the status and treatment of the blind in Edo-period Japan. In doing so, we gain insight into how this image reflects and perhaps gently critiques the social structures of its time. The historian’s role, then, is to bridge the gap between the visual world of the artwork and the complex social realities in which it was created.