This upper-class woman from the Meiji period (1868–1912) is hitting the streets in the most cutting-edge fashions of her day: Western-style clothes, reflecting Japan’s increased engagement then with Europe and North America. This print is part of a series Yoshitoshi designed of women across Japanese history and social classes.

The text by the lady’s hat indicates the setting is the month of May. But knowledgeable viewers at the time would have already known that from the purple irises behind her, which always blossomed that month.

The print’s title includes the word saikun, an honorific used when speaking of an upper-class man’s wife. As the wealthier classes freed themselves from the constraints of feudal tradition, fashion-forward women of means looked westward to Europe for their fashion cues: parasols, bustles, buttons, and bowties were new and exciting additions to their wardrobes. Women’s fashions were documented with photography as well.

In the first inscription located in the upper left, the text says: “Thirty-two Aspects of Behaviors.” This is a type of print called fūzoku (customs and manners) and follows a theme of depicting behaviors and conduct of women throughout time. To see more prints from this series about women’s behaviors, check out the More story.

During the Meiji period (1868–1912), Japan underwent a moment of intense Westernization. Befitting the stylistic experimentation of the time, women and men adopted new hairstyles—in fact, most women had wigs made so they could choose a fresh hairstyle on a whim.

A popular texture in printmaking imitated woodgrain by soaking a densely grained woodblock in water (to open up the grain), then inking it to print its woodgrain pattern. This technique was often used to highlight woodwork in a print, for instance pretending that the title of this series was written on a wooden panel, of the sort used in Japan for all kinds of advertising.