In keeping with showing scenes of Edo, Hiroshige presents the darker side of city life. Two young women in the boat, known as “night hawks” (yotaka) were considered the lowest form of prostitution and were often pimped out by their fathers or brothers. It was not uncommon for these girls to have disfigured faces and so they coated their faces with so much makeup that they would appear to be wearing masks. Along with the white face veneer, they would carry around mats so they could provide their services anywhere. Hiroshige does not shy away from this grim truth. Instead, he exaggerates their eyebrows with harsh lines, which brings to fruition this provocative image.
