Waves on Moonlight

Suzuki Harunobu Japanese

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.

Waves on Moonlight, Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1725–1770), Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan

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