Young Women Playing Poem Cards c. 1766 - 1767

"Young Women Playing Poem Cards," created between 1766 and 1767 by Suzuki Harunobu, is a classic example of ukiyo-e, a genre of Japanese woodblock prints that flourished in the Edo period. The image depicts three women in colorful kimonos engaged in a popular game of "poem cards" in a domestic setting. Harunobu's intricate details and delicate brushstrokes capture the elegance and charm of everyday life in 18th-century Japan. This print, now in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, exemplifies Harunobu's mastery of the ukiyo-e style and its enduring appeal to art lovers.