奥村政信画　見立紫式部図|Parody of Murasaki Shikibu at Her Desk

About this work

This print shows a person sitting at a low desk, reading a book and holding another open. They’re dressed in traditional robes with floral patterns, and their hair is tied back neatly. Outside a window with wooden slats, a small boat floats on water. On the floor, a cat curls up near a fan and a pot. The scene looks calm, like a quiet moment indoors. The artist used only ink to create deep shadows and textures, like the folds in the robes or the cat’s fur. The way lines overlap to build dark areas is called cross-hatching. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists use simple lines to make depth.