A Young Man, Two Young Women and a Girl at a Picnic Party 1779 - 1799

Katsukawa Shunchō created this woodblock print of a picnic scene during the Edo period, a time when urban culture flourished in Japan. Here we see a snapshot of leisure and social interaction. The group is composed of a young man and three women of different ages in a lush outdoor setting. How does the artist use clothing to communicate aspects of identity, for example the patterns of the kimonos and the cut of the man's robe? The print captures a fleeting moment, full of human connection and the enjoyment of nature. It is also worth noting the historical context, in which class structures dictated social interactions. Shunchō's portrayal of everyday life allows us to reflect on the dynamics of gender and social roles that shaped society at the time.