Banquet of the Next Full Moon at the Chrysanthemum Festival, from the series The Twelve Months (Chōyō nochi no tsuki no en, Jūni tsuki no uchi) 1854

Utagawa Kunisada created this woodblock print, Banquet of the Next Full Moon at the Chrysanthemum Festival, as part of a series called The Twelve Months. Kunisada worked in Japan during the Edo period, a time of relative peace and economic growth. This triptych depicts an elegant gathering, suggesting a prosperous merchant class with leisure time. The women's elaborate kimonos and hairstyles indicate their status, while the presence of musicians and entertainers points to a culture that valued artistic expression. The setting, with its polished wooden floors and decorative screens, further reinforces an impression of refined domesticity. The prevalence of courtesans in Kunisada's work reflects the social structure of the era. The print offers a glimpse into the licensed pleasure districts that thrived in urban centers. Through careful archival research into the history of publishing and popular entertainments we can better understand the intersection of art, commerce, and social life in Edo-period Japan.