Waves on Moonlight

ca. 1768

Not on view

An "oiran" stands in a house by the sea, trning to look thrugh the open "shoji" at the rippling waves while the seated woman fans the fire in a hibachi to make a teakettle boil. Above is an ode by Minamoto Shitagō from Jūishū #171:

Mizu no omo ni teru tsukinami o
kazofureba
koyoi zo aki no monaka narikeru.

When we count the moons on the waves
We know that it is
mid-autumn.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Waves on Moonlight
Artist: Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1725–1770)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: ca. 1768
Culture: Japan
Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: H. 11 in. (27.9 cm); W. 8 in. (20.3 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914
Object Number: JP872
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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First Leaf of the Shunga; The Delightful Love Adventures of Maneyemon, Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — First Leaf of the Shunga; The Delightful Love Adventures of Maneyemon
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Gentleman Taking Leave of His Lady on a Veranda, Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Gentleman Taking Leave of His Lady on a Veranda
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Yozei no In, Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Yozei no In
Suzuki Harunobu
ca. 1766

The Curtain Clam, Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — The Curtain Clam
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Woman Dancer in Daimyo's Palace, Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Woman Dancer in Daimyo's Palace
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