Artist: Isoda Koryūsai [礒田湖龍斎] (Japanese, 1735–1790)
Signed: 湖竜画 (Koryū ga)
Publisher: Unknown
Date: c. 1774 (An’ei 3)
Medium: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); Vertical chūban, 259 × 189 mm
Catalogue Raisonné: Hockley 2003, p. 202, #F-21-1 [LIB-3444.2025]
Series Title: 畧近江景 (Ryaku Ōmi kei) — Eight Views of Ōmi in Modern Guise
Print Title: 比良暮雪 (Hira bosetsu) — Evening Snow at Mount Hira
A woman stands at the edge of the zashiki (座敷, tatami room), facing toward a boy. She wears a long-sleeved kimono with a repeating shippo (七宝, seven treasures) pattern, and her obi, tied at the front like a hand muff, bears a triple-diamond crest. Her right hand is tucked into the obi for warmth, while she adjusts a hairpin with her left hand.
In front of her stands a young boy wearing a pink robe patterned with circular motifs resembling okiagari koboshi (起き上がり小法師) toys. He holds a tray bearing a small snow sculpture shaped like an owl, representing Daruma. Outside the room, a snow-covered stone lantern and pine tree mark the winter garden beyond.
Poem (inscribed):
| 鳥はるく | Tori haruku | The birds are leaving, |
| 比良の高根の | Hira no takane no | from the high peaks of Hira— |
| 夕くれは | Yūgure wa | in the twilight, |
| くきのさかりに | Kuki no sakari ni | at the height of Kuki, |
| かたくるるなみ | Katakururu nami | the waves grow heavy and still. |
Form: Waka (5–7–5–7–7)
Additional Information
| Collection | Japanese prints and drawings |
|---|---|
| Type / Purpose | Fine art , Woodblock print |
| Period | 18 AD , An’ei era [安永] (1772–1781) , Edo period [江戸時代] (1603–1868) , Mid-18th century |
| Country | Japan |
| Media/Technique | Colour , Ink , Paper , Woodblock print , Woodblock print (nishiki-e) |
| Size | Chuban |
| Subject | 18th century , Beautiful woman (bijin-ga) , Boy , Daruma , Eight views of Omi (Omi hakkei) , Hira Mountains , Japan , Japanese Poetry , Japanese art , Japanese woodblock prints , Poetry , Snow , Woman |
| Catalogue raisonne | Hockley (2003) |
| Acquisition year | 2013 |
![Isoda Koryūsai . Prosperous Flowers of the Elegant Twelve Seasons: young couple making love while older man sleeps. [Shunga]](/media/thumbs/svjp200039.2015-web-scaled-1.jpg?v=400)
