Illustration of Sign or Badge (on Banner, Costume, etc.) Proscribed for Subjects of the Tokugawa 1794

This 1794 illustration by Baron Matsudaira depicts various signs and badges that were mandated by the Tokugawa shogunate for different social classes in Japan. The drawing highlights the visual cues used to identify the status and restrictions placed upon people during this period. The use of black ink on paper, a common practice in Japanese art, creates a sense of stark contrast and formality, reflecting the rigid social hierarchy of the Tokugawa era. The artwork offers a glimpse into the visual language of social control and the intricate system of status markers that governed daily life in Edo-period Japan.