The phrase “emancipation of humanity” may today sound somewhat lofty and abstract, but in 1947 when this painting was first exhibited, it surely had a more urgent ring to it. Following Japan’s defeat, the Allied occupation brought efforts toward democratization and the liberation of women. In this context, the image of a woman standing confidently can be seen as a reflection of hope for a new era. Akamatsu later recalled that, although she set out to depict “the bright, healthy faces of Japanese people,” she found herself unable to do so. The year after completing this work, she wrote, “I decided I had to paint pictures of the atomic bomb” (Becoming a Woman Painter, 2000).