The Woman Who Loved Love (Kōshoku ichidai onna); by Ihara Saikaku (1642-1693), Vol. 1 c. 18th century

Editor: This is a page from "The Woman Who Loved Love," illustrated by Yoshida Hanbei. The figures are so expressive, even without color! How might the story and its reception have been shaped by the social norms of the time? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider how Hanbei’s illustrations, paired with Ihara Saikaku’s narrative, offered a lens into the pleasure quarters. Beyond entertainment, how might this work have functioned as a commentary on social mobility or perhaps even a critique of the rigid class structures of Edo-period Japan? Editor: So, it's not just about love, but about navigating social currents? Curator: Precisely. Consider how the illustrations, even in their simplicity, might have both titillated and subtly challenged societal expectations. It’s a complex dance between entertainment and social critique.