Along the Seashore at Futami 1769 - 1825

Utagawa Toyokuni I created this woodblock print titled "Along the Seashore at Futami," during the Edo period, a time of economic growth, strict social order, and flourishing arts in Japan. The print depicts three figures who are walking barefoot along a shore. Woodblock prints like this were part of a larger cultural phenomenon, reflecting and shaping societal norms. The central figure is a man who is flanked by two women. This print invites us to consider the role of women in Japanese society during the Edo period, and how gender roles were both performed and perceived. The women here are not simply decorative but are portrayed as active participants in leisure, their elaborate kimonos and hairstyles indicative of a certain social class. Toyokuni's work offers a glimpse into the everyday life and social customs of his time, but it also invites us to reflect on the dynamics of representation, class, and gender.