Japanese woman writing a letter, Meiji era (1868-1912)

A quiet moment of reflection, ink meeting paper beneath the lantern’s glow. This fine art reproduction captures a Japanese woman in the act of writing a letter — a timeless expression of thought, care, and connection. Seated in a traditional interior, she embodies the elegance and introspection of Meiji-era life.

Details

• Museum-quality fine art print on premium archival paper
• Faithful reproduction of a Meiji-era (1868–1912) hand-colored photograph
• A genuine piece of visual history
• Available in multiple sizes to suit your space

About the artwork

This hand-colored photograph from late 19th-century Japan depicts a woman dressed in a pale blue floral kimono, seated gracefully on a tatami mat. Before her lies a long scroll, mid-letter, flanked by inkstones and brushes. The warm interior features a paper lantern, shoji screen, and a painted folding screen — all hallmarks of refined Japanese domestic space.

Letter-writing during the Meiji era was more than communication; it was an act of cultural expression, especially for women of the samurai and merchant classes. This image preserves not only a personal moment but a broader cultural tradition of beauty, literacy, and quiet purpose.