Yoshiwara Women Looking into the Street at Springtime

Kitagawa Utamaro, Yoshiwara Women Looking into the Street at Springtime, color woodblock print, 1753-1806, 36.9 x 24.8 cm

This wood print depicts the scene of courtesans in luxury kimonos looking into the street in Springtime. Back then, the red dye was so expensive that the laws restricted people to wear red, but there were no restrictions on using the dye for undergarments or linings. Red became a favored color of high-ranked courtesans who were the fashion leaders of their day. Wearing red linings with great fanfare also seemed like a rebellion against the feudal rules and regulations. The patterns on the kimono are meaningful. Patterns on the kimono depend on the season and occasion. In the colder months, favored kimonos are usually with more plain colors and patterns. During the warmer months, bright colors and floral patterns (such as sakura blossoms) are common. Women need to wear patterns that match the current season. In this print, the sakura and the leaves represent the season of spring.