Hatsuito of the Yamashiroya Likened to Bush Clover, from Beauties of the Floating World Compared to Flowers

1770

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Hatsuito of the Yamashiroya Likened to Bush Clover, from Beauties of the Floating World Compared to Flowers is a 1770 by Suzuki Harunobu, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Suzuki Harunobu
When & what style?: 1770 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a woman, Hatsuito, tying her servant's obi sash. She's likened to autumnal bush clover. Hatsuito is a courtesan in a brothel, and the scene is full of symbols: a gibbon offers her a love letter, and there's a painting in the room with a moon motif. The gibbon and moon motifs are interesting. They represent the deluded mind and a popular seasonal theme. This mix of ideas is unique. Check out the work of artist Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1724–1770) for more like this.

The story of this work

Overview

Courtesan Hatsuito of a brothel named Yamashiroya is likened to autumnal bush clover in this series comparing the qualities of courtesans to flowers. Hatsuito ties her servant’s obi sash while a gibbon emerges from a painting in the room’s viewing alcove to offer a love letter on which Hatsuito’s name appears. Gibbons reaching in vain for the moon’s reflection in water is a common metaphor for the deluded mind, and bush clover in moonlight is a popular seasonal motif. Here, the ideas are combined as the gibbon woos this unattainable beauty.

Read the full account in the museum source.