Anthropology of Art: a Cultural Understanding of Female Artists of the Japanese Edo Period

Japanese art is well known throughout the world and has influenced many, such as Impressionist artists Van Gogh and Manet. However, there was a time when the Japanese people were shut off from the world. During this time, it seems that not only were outsiders removed from Japanese society and history, but also female artists as well. The purpose of this research is to identify female Japanese artists of the Edo Period (1603-1868), and to discover and explain why they were either not acknowledged, or left out of Japan’s history. Women artists in Japanese history are very prominent before and after the Edo period. This discovery of missing women is what necessitates this research, which will first identify female artists who lived during the period; second, understand their place and role in Japan\u27s society, and lastly examine how Japan\u27s culture shifted because of the movement of eras and the effects these changes had on women\u27s roles. This research will be done by studying Japanese history and culture, interviews conducted with art historians and anthropologists, and traveling to get hands-on experience with cultures and artwork from this time period