Parody of the Legend of Xu You and Chao Fu

ca. 1715

Not on view

In a highly amusing and complicated mitate version of this legend, Xu You appears as an embarrassed, two-timing Edo lover and Chao Fu as his reproachful mistress. He is washing out his ears in a desperate effort to convince her that he knows absolutely nothing of a letter from her rival. The letter discovered by the mistress is seen in the mouth of her cat. The classical allusion is veiled in the painted cascade that is part of the interior decor.

Artwork Details

Title: Parody of the Legend of Xu You and Chao Fu
Artist: Okumura Masanobu (Japanese, 1686–1764)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: ca. 1715
Culture: Japan
Medium: Monochrome woodblock print (sumie); ink on paper
Dimensions: 11 3/8 x 16 1/4 in. (28.9 x 41.3 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936
Object Number: JP2637
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Okumura Masanobu

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Fagot–gatherer Finds Boy with Sparrow, Okumura Masanobu Japanese, Monochrome woodblock print; ink on paper, Japan — Fagot–gatherer Finds Boy with Sparrow
Okumura Masanobu

Woman Pursuing Sparrow, Okumura Masanobu Japanese, Monochrome woodblock print; ink on paper, Japan — Woman Pursuing Sparrow
Okumura Masanobu

Two Figures, Okumura Masanobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Two Figures
Okumura Masanobu

Triptych of Umbrellas, Okumura Masanobu Japanese, Undivided triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — Triptych of Umbrellas
Okumura Masanobu

Tripytych of Young Men, Okumura Masanobu Japanese, Undivided triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — Tripytych of Young Men
Okumura Masanobu

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.