Scenes from the Life of Women of the Meiji Era - a set of three ukiyo-e woodcuts

A set of three color woodcuts depicting scenes from women's lives - typical of Meiji era aesthetics. Each composition shows a different aspect of life. The first woodcut depicts women busy raising silkworms (as the inscription Yōsan no zu - "Silkworm Breeding Scene"): one is mixing cocoons in a cauldron, the other is reeling threads, with a rural landscape and a blooming garden visible in the background. The second woodcut shows a boat ride among blooming cherry blossoms, while the third shows a nocturnal procession of courtesans (oiran) in the Yoshiwara entertainment district: figures dressed in richly decorated kimonos walk in the light of red lanterns, against the backdrop of a teahouse.
The colorful prints were made using the nishiki-e (multicolor woodcut) technique, characterized by the richness of the designs and the decorative nature of the costumes. Signatures of artists of the Utagawa school, typical of artists working in the second half of the 19th century, are present in the card fields.
The woodcuts are framed, ready for exhibition. Signatures of authors and publishers are visible.

Dating: second half of the 19th century.
Author: unknown, signed
Dimensions of framed woodcuts: 3 pcs. 33 × 43 cm
Dimensions of woodcuts: 37 × 22.7 cm, 2 pcs. 22 × 32,8 cm