The Toilet
1690
Step into a surprisingly relatable morning routine from 18th-century Japan! Despite the title 'The Toilet,' this scene isn't about a bathroom break—it refers to the old French word *toilette*, meaning the ritual of grooming and dressing. Nishikawa Sukenobu, a master of ukiyo-e, captures a quiet, intimate moment where a woman in a floral kimono checks her reflection in a standing mirror while an attendant assists her. The delicate black ink lines beautifully render the texture of the wooden buckets and the folds of the kimono, proving that the morning struggle of getting ready is truly timeless.
- Technique
- Woodblock print (sumizuri-e)
- Material
- Ink on paper
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