Edo Through a Cat’s Eyes, 1857/1858

A white cat gazes from a window in an 1850s Edo print. Around it, small objects suggest an unseen human presence, while outside Asakusa crowds gather for a shrine festival. Utagawa Hiroshige turns a domestic viewpoint into a layered picture of the city. What can a cat, a few hairpins and a distant procession tell us about Edo life?