A Woman Sweeping up Her Love Letters

1725–1770

Not on view

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.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: A Woman Sweeping up Her Love Letters
Artist: Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1725–1770)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: 1725–1770
Culture: Japan
Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: 11 1/8 x 8 1/2 in. (28.3 x 21.6 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Henry L. Phillips Collection, Bequest of Henry L. Phillips, 1939
Object Number: JP2779
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Suzuki Harunobu

In the same medium

From the same time and place

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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
Suzuki Harunobu
ca. 1769

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
Suzuki Harunobu

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
Suzuki Harunobu

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

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