Parody of Kawachi-goe from "Tales of Ise" 1765

This woodblock print was made by Suzuki Harunobu in Japan. He was a leading artist in the ukiyo-e style during the 1760s. Here, a courtesan, or perhaps a young noblewoman, stands framed by a doorway at the top of a staircase. The print makes reference to an earlier, iconic image from "Tales of Ise," a 10th-century collection of Japanese poems and tales. Harunobu was known for creating "parody pictures," or mitate-e, which playfully alluded to classical literature and themes. In this case, the artist wittily replaces the male protagonist of the original story with a contemporary female figure, likely an entertainer from the pleasure quarters. These prints, catering to the tastes of the urban bourgeoisie, were a form of cultural commentary. Harunobu’s parody gently subverts the solemnity of classical art, recasting it in the vibrant, fleeting world of Edo-period Japan. To understand this work fully, art historians examine not only the print itself, but also the literary context of the "Tales of Ise," alongside the social and economic conditions that shaped the demand for ukiyo-e prints.