The Ninth Month, from the series "Twelve Months in the South (Minami juni ko)" c. 1784

"The Ninth Month" (c. 1784) by Torii Kiyonaga, part of the series "Twelve Months in the South", depicts three women in a room with a large window. The woman on the right gazes out at the moonlit sea while the other two are engrossed in a book and possibly a sewing project. Kiyonaga, known for his portrayals of elegant women, highlights the beauty and refinement of Japanese life with detailed, graceful figures and the serene, atmospheric setting. This woodblock print, now at the Art Institute of Chicago, captures the mood and imagery of the ninth month, which is traditionally considered a time of beauty and tranquility in Japan.