礫川亭永理 (鳥橋斎栄里)画 壬生忠岑の見立絵|Courtier and Two Ladies of the Court, with a Poem by Mibu no Tadamine
1791
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1791
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This print shows three figures in traditional Japanese robes. Two women kneel on the floor, one holding a brush and paper, the other resting her hand on the first’s shoulder. A man in a dark hat stands behind them, watching. Their clothes are soft pinks, greens, and golds, with delicate patterns. A small tray with a teapot sits nearby. The women appear to be copying something by hand, maybe a poem or letter. The text above them is Japanese, likely part of the scene’s meaning. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
