A Woman Sweeping up Her Love Letters

Suzuki Harunobu Japanese

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A beautiful woman holding a broom looks back at baskets full of love letters borne by an ox. Harunobu's image alludes to the popular Chinese legend of Kanzan (Hanshan) and his companion Jittoku (Shede) from the Tang dynasty (618–907). Kanzan and Jittoku were typically depicted as a pair: the former holds a sutra and the latter a broom.

A Woman Sweeping up Her Love Letters, Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1725–1770), Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan

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