Sneeuwvrouw 1788

This print, Sneeuwvrouw, was made by Kitagawa Utamaro in Japan using woodblock printing techniques. In this image we see two women, one standing and one sitting. They appear to be domestic workers or geishas. Utamaro was well known for his portraits of women. His work emerged in the late 18th century, during the Edo period, a time of economic growth, strict social order and relative peace. But beneath the surface, it was also a time of rising social tensions and the commercialization of culture. Utamaro’s images reflect these changes, with a focus on individual personalities, and everyday life. How did the economics and social changes influence the lives of women? What were the cultural expectations of women at the time? These are just some of the questions that art historians might explore. By researching historical texts, social customs, and economic data, we can begin to understand how artworks like this one reflect, challenge, and shape the social norms of their time.