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Two Women Holding Fans
Two Women Holding Fans
Public domain: Image courtesy of the Worcester Art Museum.

Two Women Holding Fans

Artist (Japanese)
Dateabout 1690
Mediumwoodblock print; ink on paper; sumizuri-e
Dimensions34.6 x 22.9 cm (13 5/8 x 9 in.)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineJohn Chandler Bancroft Collection
Object number1901.59.2246
DescriptionA wife of a court noble is seated upon the floor of a room holding an open fan. Her head is supported by her left hand on her chin. An ink-stone and brushed are on the floor. Her companion is in a reclining positon. She is unmarried and does not have two dots on her forhead to designate members of the kuge (court noble) class.
Label TextThe two women reclining on a floor hold open fans upon which they plan to add verses. Judging by the two painted eyebrow dots (designating a member of the noble class (kuge), the woman in the foreground is the wife of a court noble. With an ink stone and brushes placed beside her, the woman pensively leans her chin on her left hand. As is clear from her natural eyebrows, the second woman is an unmarried.
On View
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Conservation Status: After Treatment
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