About this artwork
The figure of a sumptuously attired woman takes up almost the entire composition of this print. She wears a layered kimono, the outer robe of which has a lavish design of plums, a winding stream, and Chinese characters. She is an educated woman as evidenced by the books piled on the lacquer cabinet behind her. She looks at a blank sheet of decorated paper, brush in hand, ready to compose a poem. Above her, the poems speak of the art of poetry as practiced by animals, whereby the animals represent the efforts of amateur poets. One of the poems reads:
Even the sound
Of the song
Bellowed by a frog
Who lives in a well
Is somehow transformed
[when inscribed on a poem card.]
(Translated by John Carpenter)
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Asia
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Artist
- Yashima Gakutei
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Title
- Woman About to Write a Poem
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Place
- Japan (Artist's nationality:)
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Date
- 1816–1833
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Medium
- Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban
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Dimensions
- 21.3 × 18.3 cm (8 7/16 × 7 1/4 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Helen C. Gunsaulus
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Reference Number
- 1954.501
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/80963/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.