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Yashima Gakutei

Woman About to Write a Poem

c. 1824
Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban
21.3 × 18.3 cm (8.4 × 7.2 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

The figure of a sumptuously attired woman takes up almost the entire composition of this print. She wears a layered kimono, the outer robe of which has a lavish design of plums, a winding stream, and Chinese characters. She is an educated woman as evidenced by the books piled on the lacquer cabinet behind her. She looks at a blank sheet of decorated paper, brush in hand, ready to compose a poem. Above her, the poems speak of the art of poetry as practiced by animals, whereby the animals represent the efforts of amateur poets. One of the poems reads: Even the sound Of the song Bellowed by a frog Who lives in a well Is somehow transformed [when inscribed on a poem card.] (Translated by John Carpenter)

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