Woman Leaving a Bath House (from the series Pictures from Otsu)
1824
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1824
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A woman in a blue robe steps out of a wooden bathhouse, her hair still damp. The scene is quiet—just her, a lantern, and a small dog waiting. Look at the tiny gourd in the corner. Inside, a horse’s head pokes out. It’s a nod to an old folk tale about a magical horse that appears from a gourd. People in the Edo period loved these playful, hidden stories in art. If this makes you curious, check out more from japan, edo period (1615–1868).
