Suzuki Harunobu was a Japanese artist who lived in the 18th century and produced about seven hundred works in multicolor printing, called Nishikie. His art was based on the paintings of the Chinese painter Qiu Ying
who had lived in the Ming Dynasty. Little is known about the life of Suzuki Harunobu. It is not clear whether he was born in Edo, today's Tokyo or Kyoto. Some art historians assume that he came from a samurai family and was very educated. Harunobu is considered to be a grandmaster of the middle Ukiyoe period and founder of Japanese colour printing. From today's perspective, he was the first artist to popularize multicolor printing. Initially, the painter worked mainly with the colors green and red. Later he used several colors for his prints. Harunobu lived and worked most of the time in Edo.
Typical for Suzuki Harunobu's representations were graceful female figures with inclined heads. Harunobus painting style was fine and expressive. The painter himself had no pupils of his own. However, imitators of his style are known. Harunobu used hidden allusions in his visual language. Thus he created picture calendars, called Egoyomi, which were very popular in his time. The picture calendars were given away among themselves. There was a competition to see who got the best picture calendar. This increased the demand for pictures of Suzuki Harunobu. The painter quickly became known to a wide range of buyers due to his multi-coloured wood prints. The works are still popular with collectors today.
Among the works of the painter were also parodies of well-known literary scenes, called mitates. Harunobu's main themes were everyday scenes and depictions of beautiful young girls, courtesans and their lovers. All figures appear young and fragile. The artist painted them in idealized form. The mood of the pictures is romantic and often a little melancholic. It is unusual that Harunobu was the first Japanese artist to show scenes of single figures and couples in the snow and at night. His complete works include drawings, paintings and woodblock prints. The painter created prints with erotic representations, called shunga (spring pictures) and illustrated many books. Harunobu died at the age of only 45 years.
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.jpg "Crow and Heron, or Young Lovers Walking Together under an Umbrella in a Snowstorm, c. 1769 by Suzuki Harunobu")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-19925).jpg "Geese Descending on the Koto Bridges (Kotoji rakugan) by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Caught in the Act by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_(colour_woodblock_print)_-_(MeisterDrucke-945698).jpg "Plum Blossoms on a Dark Night (Yamiyo no ume) by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "A summer scene on a raised embankment of a young man cutting an aubergine to give to his young lady companion by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-640559).jpg "Young Woman with a Lantern, 1765-70 by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Lovers Plying a Rooster with Sake, c. 1767 by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "A naked mother washing her child in Japan beside a basin filled with water. Print by Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770). 1766-1768. Dimensions: 0.27 x 0.201 m. Paris, Guimet Museum, National Museum of Asian Arts by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Courtesans playing music, exposed to the eyes of voyeurs. Japanese print by Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770). Around 1769. Dimensions: 0.27 x 0.21 m. Paris, Guimet Museum, National Museum of Asian Arts by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1104295).jpg "The Assignation: Two Lovers at a Gate, c.1768 by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_the_second_sheet_of_the_series_Marriage_in_Brocade_Pri_-_(MeisterDrucke-1276134).jpg "Exchange of Gifts (Yuino), the second sheet of the series \"Marriage in Brocade Prints, the Carriage of the Virtuous Woman\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_the_second_sheet_of_the_series_Marriage_in_Brocade_Pri_-_(MeisterDrucke-1276134).jpg)
.jpg "An Oiran Holding a Black Dog, ca. 1769 by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_the_third_sh_-_(MeisterDrucke-1616224).jpg "The Bride Riding in the Palanquin to Her Husband")
_the_third_sh_-_(MeisterDrucke-1616224).jpg)
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_-_(MeisterDrucke-1291771).jpg "Evening Snow on a Floss Shaper, from the series \"Eight Views of the Parlor\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_-_(MeisterDrucke-1291771).jpg)
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_-_(MeisterDrucke-1276810).jpg "Evening Snow on a Floss Shaper (Nurioke no bosetsu), from the series \"Eight Views of the Parlor (Zashiki hakkei)\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_-_(MeisterDrucke-1276810).jpg)
.jpg "Young Man and Woman Talking through a Bamboo Blind by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Tamonten, from the series \"The Seven Gods of Good Luck in Modern Life (Tosei Shichi Fukujin)\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Double-page Illustration from Vol. 2 of \"Picture Book of Spring Brocades (Ehon haru no nishiki)\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1276052).jpg "Poem by Otomo no Kuronushi, from the series \"Six Famous Poets\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Double-page Illustration from Vol. 1 of \"Picture Book of Spring Brocades\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1285724).jpg "The Call of the Cuckoo from above the Clouds (parody of Minamoto no Yorimasa) by Suzuki Harunobu")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1285724).jpg)
.jpg "Hotei, from the series")
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_the_sixth_sheet_of_the_series_Marriage_-_(MeisterDrucke-1273603).jpg "A Cup of Sake before Bed (Toko sakazuki), the Sixth Sheet of the Series \"Marriage in Brocade Prints, the Carriage of the Virtuous Woman (Konrei nishiki misao-guruma)\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_the_sixth_sheet_of_the_series_Marriage_-_(MeisterDrucke-1273603).jpg)
_the_fourth_sheet_of_the_series_Marriage_in_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298649).jpg "The Ceremonial Sake, the fourth sheet of the series")
_the_fourth_sheet_of_the_series_Marriage_in_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298649).jpg)
_from_the_series_Parodies_-_(MeisterDrucke-1300858).jpg "Tree Peony: Chozan of Chojiya, from the series \"Parodies of Floating-world Beauties as Flowers\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Parodies_-_(MeisterDrucke-1300858).jpg)
.jpg "The Poetess Ono no Komachi by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Playing battledore and shuttlecock by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Fashionable_Scenes_of_Snow_Moon_and_Flowers_(Fu_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284856).jpg "The Moon, from the series \"Fashionable Scenes of Snow, Moon and Flowers\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Fashionable_Scenes_of_Snow_Moon_and_Flowers_(Fu_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284856).jpg)
.jpg "Playing Battledore and Shuttlecock by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Figures in an Interior, a Courtesan Looking at Her Shinzo Who is Reading a Love Letter by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_the_Pa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1280253).jpg "Night Rain of the Tea Stand, from the series \"Eight Views of the Parlor\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_the_Pa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1280253).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1292606).jpg "Parody of Act VII of")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1292606).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284470).jpg "Meeting her Lover (parody of the Yugao chapter of \"Tale of Genji\") by Suzuki Harunobu")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284470).jpg)
_the_first_sheet_from_the_series_Marriage_in_Brocade_Prin_-_(MeisterDrucke-1286142).jpg "The Introduction, the first sheet from the series \"Marriage in Brocade Prints, the Carriage of the Virtuous Woman\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_the_first_sheet_from_the_series_Marriage_in_Brocade_Prin_-_(MeisterDrucke-1286142).jpg)
.jpg "A Fan Peddler Showing his Wares to a Young Woman by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Double-page Illustration from Vol. 2 of \"Picture Book of Spring Brocades\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Eight_V_-_(MeisterDrucke-1302782).jpg "Descending Geese of the Koto Bridges, from the Series")
_from_the_series_Eight_V_-_(MeisterDrucke-1302782).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301101).jpg "Courtesan Riding a Carp (parody of the Daoist Immortal Kinko) by Suzuki Harunobu")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301101).jpg)
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_the_Pa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1296286).jpg "Clearing Breeze from a Fan, from the series \"Eight Views of the Parlor\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_the_Pa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1296286).jpg)
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_the_Pa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1277269).jpg "Clearing Breeze from a Fan, from the series \"Eight Views of the Parlor\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_the_Pa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1277269).jpg)
.jpg "Night Rain at the Double-Shelf Stand, from the series Eight Parlor Views by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_the_seventh_sheet_of_the_series_Marriage_in_Brocade_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284607).jpg "The First Childbirth (Uizan), the seventh sheet of the series")
_the_seventh_sheet_of_the_series_Marriage_in_Brocade_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284607).jpg)
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_Omi_(Omi_ha_-_(MeisterDrucke-1614805).jpg "Night Rain at Karasaki, from the series \"Eight Views of Omi\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_Omi_(Omi_ha_-_(MeisterDrucke-1614805).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1303488).jpg "Lovers Playing the Same Flute (Parody of Xuanzong and Yang Guifei) by Suzuki Harunobu")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1303488).jpg)
.jpg "Osen of the Kagiya Teahouse at Kasamori Shrine with a View of Nippori in Yanaka by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Eight_Fashionabl_-_(MeisterDrucke-1300311).jpg "Clearing Weather at Asakusa, from the series \"Eight Fashionable Views of Edo\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Eight_Fashionabl_-_(MeisterDrucke-1300311).jpg)
.jpg "Double-page Illustration from Vol. 2 of \"Picture Book of Spring Brocades\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Six_Jewel_River_-_(MeisterDrucke-1297085).jpg "The Jewel River of Plovers, from the series")
_from_the_series_Six_Jewel_River_-_(MeisterDrucke-1297085).jpg)
_from_the_series_Popular_Versions_of_Immortal_Poets_in_Fo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1282968).jpg "The Third Month, from the series Popular Versions of Immortal Poets in Four Seasons by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Popular_Versions_of_Immortal_Poets_in_Fo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1282968).jpg)
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_t_-_(MeisterDrucke-1300043).jpg "The Evening Bell of the Clock, from the series \"Eight Views of the Parlor\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Minamoto no Shigeyuki, from an Untitled Series of Thirty-Six Immortal Poets by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Five_Cardinal_Virtues_-_(MeisterDrucke-1292613).jpg "Courteousness, from the series")
_from_the_series_Five_Cardinal_Virtues_-_(MeisterDrucke-1292613).jpg)
.jpg "Benzaiten, from the series")
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_from_the_series_Beautie_-_(MeisterDrucke-1300120).jpg "Sumirena: The Mistress of Yojiya, from the Series")
_from_the_series_Beautie_-_(MeisterDrucke-1300120).jpg)
_from_the_series_Popular_Versions_of_Immortal_Poets_in_-_(MeisterDrucke-1295032).jpg "The Eighth Month (Chushu), from the series \"Popular Versions of Immortal Poets in Four Seasons (Fuzoku shiki kasen)\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Popular_Versions_of_Immortal_Poets_in_-_(MeisterDrucke-1295032).jpg)
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_th_-_(MeisterDrucke-1282662).jpg "Autumn Moon in the Mirror, from the series")
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_th_-_(MeisterDrucke-1282662).jpg)
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_t_-_(MeisterDrucke-1297733).jpg "The Evening Bell of the Clock, from the series")
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_t_-_(MeisterDrucke-1297733).jpg)
.jpg "Poem by Fujiwara no Toshiyuki, from an Untitled Series of Thirty-Six Immortal Poets by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Eight_Fashiona_-_(MeisterDrucke-1271291).jpg "Returning Sails at Shinagawa, from the series")
_from_the_series_Eight_Fashiona_-_(MeisterDrucke-1271291).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301203).jpg "Poem by Sojo Henjo, from the series \"Six Famous Poets\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301203).jpg)
_from_the_series_The_Seven_Fashionable_-_(MeisterDrucke-1278867).jpg "Ono no Komachi by the Waterfall, from the series The Seven Fashionable Aspects of Komachi by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_The_Seven_Fashionable_-_(MeisterDrucke-1278867).jpg)
_from_an_untitled_series_of_Six_Jewe_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272226).jpg "The Jewel River at Chofu, from an untitled series of Six Jewel Rivers by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_an_untitled_series_of_Six_Jewe_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272226).jpg)
_from_the_series_Five_Cardinal_Virtues_-_(MeisterDrucke-1286185).jpg "Righteousness (Gi), from the series Five Cardinal Virtues by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Five_Cardinal_Virtues_-_(MeisterDrucke-1286185).jpg)
_the_fifth_sheet_of_the_series_Marriage_i_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272568).jpg "The Bride Changing Clothes, the Fifth Sheet of the Series")
_the_fifth_sheet_of_the_series_Marriage_i_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272568).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1296466).jpg "The Elopement (parody of Akutagawa episode from")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1296466).jpg)
.jpg "Jurojin, from the series")
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.jpg "Fukurokuju, from the series \"The Seven Gods of Good Luck in the Floating World\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Double-Flowered Cherry: Motoura of the Minami Yamasakiya by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Eight_Fashion_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284144).jpg "Evening Rain at Nihonzutsumi, from the series")
_from_the_series_Eight_Fashion_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284144).jpg)
.jpg "Daikokuten, from the Series")
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.jpg "Poem by Henjo Sojo, from an untitled series of Thirty-Six Immortal Poets by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284460).jpg "Courtesan Riding a Carp (parody of the Daoist Immortal Kinko) by Suzuki Harunobu")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284460).jpg)
_from_the_series_Six_Jewel_Rivers_in_Popu_-_(MeisterDrucke-1289712).jpg "The Koya Jewel River, from the series \"Six Jewel Rivers in Popular Customs\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Six_Jewel_Rivers_in_Popu_-_(MeisterDrucke-1289712).jpg)
.jpg "Young Woman Standing Under an Umbrella in the Snow by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "The Jewel River of Plovers, a Famous Place in Mutsu Province, from the series by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Poem by Chunagon Yakamochi, from an untitled series of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Beauty Looking Down at a Cat while Fixing a Mosquito Net by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Parodies_of_Eight_Scenes_from_-_(MeisterDrucke-1294004).jpg "Night Rain of Genjo (Genjo no yau), from the series \"Parodies of Eight Scenes from Noh Chants (Furyu utai hakkei)\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Parodies_of_Eight_Scenes_from_-_(MeisterDrucke-1294004).jpg)
_from_the_series_Eight_-_(MeisterDrucke-1300546).jpg "Returning Sails of the Towel Rack, from the series")
_from_the_series_Eight_-_(MeisterDrucke-1300546).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1614025).jpg "Fun")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1614025).jpg)
_from_an_untitled_series_of_parodies_of_th_-_(MeisterDrucke-1294639).jpg "Gonchunagon Sadaie (Fujiwara no Teika), from an untitled series of parodies of the Three Evening Poems by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_an_untitled_series_of_parodies_of_th_-_(MeisterDrucke-1294639).jpg)
_a_parody_of_the_well-curb_episode_of_the_Tales_of_Ise_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301440).jpg "First Love (Hatsu koi), a Parody of the Well-Curb Episode of the")
_a_parody_of_the_well-curb_episode_of_the_Tales_of_Ise_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301440).jpg)
_from_the_series_Eig_-_(MeisterDrucke-1270554).jpg "Geese Descending on the Sumida River, from the series")
_from_the_series_Eig_-_(MeisterDrucke-1270554).jpg)
.jpg "The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the Nun Seigen by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Double-page Illustration from Vol. 1 of")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1294701).jpg "Girl Riding a Crane (parody of Hi Chobo) by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Descending Geese of the Koto Bridges by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Parody of Sun Kang, Also Known as Snow by the Window by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "The Wedding Sake Cup: The Marriage Ceremonies by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "The Lion Dance by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Two Itinerant Musicians by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_an_untitled_series_of_Shells_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272592).jpg "The Abalone, from an untitled series of Shells by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Poem by Sanjo")
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.jpg "Evening Glow in the Paper-Covered Night-Light, from the series Eight Parlour Views by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "The Jewel River at Ide, from the series The Six Jewel Rivers by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Five_Cardinal_Virtues_-_(MeisterDrucke-1289891).jpg "Benevolence (Jin), from the series \"Five Cardinal Virtues\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Bush Clover from the Series Beauties of the Floating World Compared to Flowers by Suzuki Harunobu")
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.jpg "Girls Playing the Game of Ken by Suzuki Harunobu")
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_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_the_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298868).jpg "The Evening Glow of a Lamp, from the series \"Eight Views of the Parlor\" by Suzuki Harunobu")
_from_the_series_Eight_Views_of_the_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298868).jpg)
.jpg "The Watchers and the Watched by Suzuki Harunobu")
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