Benevolence, from The Five Virtues
1767
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1767
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows a courtesan shaving her attendant's neck. The scene is part of a series depicting the cardinal virtues of Confucianism. It's interesting that the artist chose a simple act of kindness to show benevolence, and the poem at the top adds a layer of depth to the image. You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1724–1770).
