In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland — check current display status with the museum.
FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG
A young woman has passed beneath an aged willow tree as she strolls along a riverbank carrying a cage full of fireflies. The painting is a copy after Kubo Shunman, best known as a composer of witty verses in 31-syllables ( kyōka ) and designer of limited edition prints called surimono . Shunman was active during the mature era of ukiyo-e production, and his more formal paintings most often took as their subjects beautiful Chinese or Japanese women. Here, his imitator commemorates one of summer's most delightful evening pastimes, the observation of the flickering lights of the firefly. The woman is presented in a ubiquitous summer setting, a refreshingly cool and breezy riverbank in earshot of rustling willow leaves.
Be the first to share your thoughts.
Sign in to join the discussion.
Ikeda Eisen (Japanese, 1790–1848) — Courtesan
Chōbunsai Eishi (Japanese, 1756–1829) — Beauty in a Boat on 
Hosoda Eishi — The Salt Maidens, Murasame with Yukihira's Ha
Kubo Shunman
Utagawa Toyoharu|Shokusanjin (Ōta Nanpo) — 歌川豊春筆 蜀山人（大田 南畝）賛
Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1724–1770) — Young Woman Looking 
Hosoda Eishi — The Salt Maidens, Matsukaze with Yukihira's C
Qiu Ying — Seated Girl on Porch
Genki (Komai Ki) — 源琦 梅下美人図|Chinese Beauty Beside a Plum Tre
Hosoda Eishi — A Courtesan Reading a Letter
Kikukawa Eizan (Japanese, 1787–1867) — A Lady-in-Waiting wit
Katsukawa Shunshō — Dancer with a Maple Branch
