A Beauty Looking Down upon a Young Man Reading a Love Letter

Utagawa Toyoharu Japanese

Not on view

Toyoharu is known for incorporating Western perspective into his prints (uki-e), as may be observed here in the depiction of the sea in the distance. His graceful, willowy images of women remind us of the delicate beauties of Suzuki Harunobu (1725–1770).

The halberd that the woman holds and the shape of the window behind the couple are Chinese and may suggest a parody (mitate) of a Chinese subject.

A Beauty Looking Down upon a Young Man Reading a Love Letter, Utagawa Toyoharu (Japanese, 1735–1814), Woodblock print (pillar print); ink and color on paper, Japan

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