2. Kasumigaseki 1857

Utagawa Hiroshige made this woodblock print, Kasumigaseki, during the Edo period in Japan. This colorful image of people flying kites offers a window into the social life and cultural values of 19th-century Edo, now Tokyo. Consider the setting: Kasumigaseki was the home of the samurai government, and the location of the lords' mansions. The presence of kites, traditionally associated with festivals and leisure, amidst the formal atmosphere of the government district, suggests a unique blend of work and play. We see an idealized version of a harmonious society, reinforcing the existing social order. The print aligns with the "ukiyo-e" tradition of depicting everyday life, but it also caters to the interests of the rising merchant class. To understand this print fully, we can consider the political function of urban spaces. The arrangement of social classes, and the cultural associations with specific geographical locations, offer insights into the creation and dissemination of images. We can look at the archives of the Tokugawa Shogunate, or even Edo-period literature to understand these better.