Prince Genji Visits the Gankirō Tea House 1860

This is ‘Prince Genji Visits the Gankirō Tea House’, a woodblock print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 19th century Japan. Kunisada's prints were aimed at a wide urban audience, depicting popular actors, courtesans, and scenes from daily life. This print is a window into the Edo period's floating world, a culture of pleasure and entertainment. It shows Prince Genji, a fictional character, visiting a tea house, a space that was also a licensed brothel. The courtesans are dressed in elaborate kimonos, a sign of their status and wealth. The setting, with cherry blossoms, evokes the transient nature of beauty and pleasure. Kunisada's work reflects the social hierarchy and the complex relationship between the ruling class and the merchant class. This print offers a glimpse into the values, desires, and social dynamics of the time. To further understand prints like this, historians use sources such as contemporary literature, theatre programs, and government records to uncover the intricate social and institutional networks that shaped the artwork. This helps us to understand art as a product of its time, reflecting the social and cultural forces that shaped its creation.