Sleeve-Letter Takasago (Sodefumi Takasago), no. 2 from a series of 12 prints depicting parodies of plays c. 1716s - 1726s

"Sleeve-Letter Takasago" is a woodblock print by Okumura Masanobu from a series of 12 depicting parodies of plays. This print depicts two figures in traditional Japanese dress, one sweeping with a broom as the other looks on. The print is a humorous depiction of a scene from the play "Takasago," which is about the enduring strength of love and loyalty. The style of this print is characteristic of the Edo period, with its fine lines, delicate details, and focus on the natural world. The work is a great example of ukiyo-e, the genre of woodblock prints that flourished in Japan from the 17th to 19th centuries.