Woman Digging Bamboo Shoots in the Snow, or Parody of Meng Zong (Mōsō), from Twenty-Four Paragons of Filial Piety 1755 - 1775

This ukiyo-e print by Suzuki Harunobu, titled "Woman Digging Bamboo Shoots in the Snow, or Parody of Meng Zong (Mōsō)," depicts a woman in traditional Japanese dress digging for bamboo shoots in a snowy landscape. The scene is a parody of the Chinese legend of Meng Zong, who famously dug for bamboo shoots in the snow to feed his sick mother. Harunobu's print, however, portrays the woman as a beautiful and fashionable figure, highlighting the beauty of the natural world even in winter. The print is a fine example of Harunobu's ability to combine delicate details with strong compositional elements, creating a work that is both visually appealing and evocative of the season.