Poem by Henjo Sojo, from an untitled series of Thirty-Six Immortal Poets c. 1767 - 1768

This ukiyo-e woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu, from the series "Thirty-Six Immortal Poets," depicts a scene of a woman churning milk in a large wooden barrel. The work, dated to the mid-18th century, exemplifies Harunobu's signature style, which included delicately rendered figures and a focus on the beauty of everyday life. This print also showcases the vibrant colors and intricate details characteristic of the ukiyo-e genre, which celebrated the fleeting world of everyday life in Edo-era Japan. The print, like many others in the series, features a poem by a famous poet, Henjo Sojo, in the upper right corner. The subject matter and the artist's signature style make it a classic example of the "ukiyo-e" style, a significant artistic movement in Japanese history.