The Origins of Kuchi-e
Towards the end of the 19th century, reading had become a habit for the common people in Japan. The vast majority people who purchased or rented publications in which Kuchi-e appeared were women since most of the stories at the time could be considered "modern Japanese novels" involving female central characters. Consequently, most Kuchi-e depict women. Kuchi-e were meant to capture the essence of the stories and not intended as literal illustrations. Ultimately, the prints became recognized as a new genre in the history of Japanese woodblock printing. For more in depth reading on Kuchi-e, please click here.