At the end of the 19th century the first Japanese woodblock prints came to Europe as cheap packaging material for imports. The artistic avant-garde was inspired, just think of the brightly colored works of Edgar Degas or Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, which are characterized by radical room layout and immediacy. But the influence was mutual: even the famous ukiyo-e artist Torii Kiyonaga had his Japanese beauties perform in front of a landscape that shows a horizon and also perspective in a typically Western manner. The ukiyo-e movement wanted to celebrate the fleeting life and pleasures of the day in the sense of a "carpe diem!
Torii Kiyonaga was one of the great masters of his craft. He studied with his stepfather Torii Kiyomitsu and created expressive images of actors of the Kabuki theatre with their mask-like distorted, heavily made-up faces. But unlike his teacher, he mainly showed the everyday pleasures of the upper middle-class society of Tokyo, then Edo, and other up-and-coming Japanese cities. He was born in Edo in 1752 as the son of a bookseller. Kiyonaga did not belong to the better society he wanted to portray, but he was far more talented than the natural son of his teacher, so that he was to follow in his teacher's footsteps. In his woodblock prints he presents us the daily tasks of the fine and fine-tuned society. Thus we become witnesses of a bathhouse scene in which clothed, but also naked women seem to be unobserved. A mother dries her baby - a scene of hitherto unknown realism. Are we perhaps the voyeur who seems to be looking through a hidden hatch? So are the women portrayed courtesans putting themselves on display? Well, the man could also be a sansuke who was a common masseur in Japanese bath houses. However, Kiyonaga also has more chaste scenes, for example of women in kimonos who are surprised by a shower and seek shelter under a temple roof or take a boat trip on a lake. Torii Kiyonaga also created a picture cycle over the twelve months, which shows us a lot about the Japanese society of the time and its refined customs. But playing children can be found all over the world, and these here from Japan are given in the most dynamic and vivid way. However, the children here seem to be barefoot in a snowball fight, which does not quite fit in with his reputation as a particularly realistic artist.
Torii Kiyonaga took over the Torii School from his teacher and passed on his knowledge and innovations to a younger generation of artists. To this day he is still considered the great master of bijin-ga, the depiction of beautiful styled women in exquisite settings - that's what you would say today. The master died in Edo in 1815, but his work still indirectly influenced the Japan-loving circles of the European art avant-garde almost a hundred years later.
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_from_the_series_Eight_Fashi_-_(MeisterDrucke-1281735).jpg "A Fan Suggesting a Dispersed Storm, from the series \"Eight Fashionable Scenes of the Parlor\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Woman with Black Hood in Windblown Leaves, from the series")
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.jpg "Murasaki Shikibu by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "The Iris Garden by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Young Man Playing Flute as Three Girls Watch by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Kiyonaga Bathhouse Women by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "The Actors Iwai Hanshiro IV as Kuzunoha, Ichikawa Yaozo III as Yakanpei, and Ichikawa Ebizo IV as Abe no Doji, in the play \"Ashiya Doman Ouchi Kagami,\" performed at the Nakamura Theater in the ninth month, 1784 by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_from_the_series_Fashionable_Twelve_Seasons_(Furyu_juni_-_(MeisterDrucke-1279428).jpg "The First Month (Mutsuki), from the series \"Fashionable Twelve Seasons\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
_from_the_series_Fashionable_Twelve_Seasons_(Furyu_juni_-_(MeisterDrucke-1279428).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1303374).jpg "The Fourth Month, from the series \"Twelve Months in the South\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_from_the_series_Fashionable_Monthly_Visits_to_Sa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298654).jpg "The Sixth Month, from the series")
_from_the_series_Fashionable_Monthly_Visits_to_Sa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298654).jpg)
.jpg "The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Munesada, Segawa Kikunojo III as the courtesan Sumizome, and Nakamura Nakazo I as Sekibei, in the play \"Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To,\" performed at the Kiri Theater in the eleventh month, 1784 by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro V as Hige no Ikyu, Nakamura Riko as Agemaki, and Ichikawa Ebizo as Agemaki")
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.jpg "The Courtesan Wakakusa of the Chojiya with Her Attendants Asano and Midori, from the series")
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.jpg "The View from Komagata Hall, from the Series")
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.jpg "Entertainers of the Tachibana, from the series \"A Collection of Contemporary Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_from_the_series_Go_Taiheiki_Shiraishi_-_(MeisterDrucke-1296084).jpg "Scene at the Daifukuya, from the series")
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.jpg "A Noble Young Lady, from the series")
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.jpg "The Courtesan Toji of the Ogiya with Her Attendants Satoji and Uraji, from the series \"Models for Fashion: New Designs as Fresh as Young Leaves\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "No. 2: Chinese Boys Copying Paintings and Writing Japanese, from the series")
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.jpg "A Lady with Three Servants, from the series")
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.jpg "Night Rain of the Tea Stand, from the series")
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.jpg "Visiting the Shrine of Enmei Jizo, from the series")
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.jpg "The Actors Ichikawa Yaozo III as Shiragiku, Ichikawa Danjuro V as the puppeteer Dekurokubei, and Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no Juro, in the joruri")
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.jpg "Entertainers of the Tachibana, from the series \"A Collection of Contemporary Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1285272).jpg "Shitaya, from the series")
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.jpg "A Woman and Two Maids, from the series")
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.jpg "Under Umbrellas in a Shower, from the series")
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_from_the_series_Go_Taiheiki_S_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272622).jpg "Scene at the Ishido Mansion, from the series Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Carrying a Lantern Decorated with a Pavilion, Gohei, Flowers, and Fan, from the series")
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.jpg "Two Women and a Maid, from the series")
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_from_the_series_Flowers_of_N_-_(MeisterDrucke-1299074).jpg "Two Geisha Struggling for a Letter, from the series \"Flowers of Nakasu\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Out for a Walk, from the series \"A Collection of Contemporary Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_from_the_series_Twelve_Stages_of_Matrimony_(Konrei_juni_shi_-_(MeisterDrucke-1275585).jpg "First Meeting (Miai), from the series \"Twelve Stages of Matrimony\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
_from_the_series_Twelve_Stages_of_Matrimony_(Konrei_juni_shi_-_(MeisterDrucke-1275585).jpg)
.jpg "Young Boy Wearing Hakama for the First Time, from the series")
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.jpg "The Tanabata Festival, from the series \"Precious Children")
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_from_the_series_Twelve_Months_in_the_South_(Mina_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301231).jpg "The Seventh Month, from the series \"Twelve Months in the South\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
_from_the_series_Twelve_Months_in_the_South_(Mina_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301231).jpg)
.jpg "The Doll Festival, from the series")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1290227).jpg "Enoshima, from the series \"Mount Fuji in the Four Seasons\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Watching the Water Festival from Azuma Bridge, from the series \"Eight Precincts of the Kinryuzan Temple in Asakusa\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Courtesan Going to Bed, from the series \"Ten Types of Beauties in Pictures\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_from_the_illustrated_boo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1295987).jpg "The First Horseback Ride of the New Year, from the Illustrated Book")
_from_the_illustrated_boo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1295987).jpg)
_from_the_series_Twelve_Months_in_the_South_(Minami_jun_-_(MeisterDrucke-1270346).jpg "The Tenth Month (Jugatsu) from the series")
_from_the_series_Twelve_Months_in_the_South_(Minami_jun_-_(MeisterDrucke-1270346).jpg)
.jpg "Discovering the Address of a Husband")
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_from_the_s_-_(MeisterDrucke-1278564).jpg "A Mirror on a Stand Suggesting the Autumnal Moon, from the Series")
_from_the_s_-_(MeisterDrucke-1278564).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1296994).jpg "Totsuka, from the series \"Mount Fuji in the Four Seasons (Shiki no Fuji)\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Uma no Naishi, from the series")
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_from_the_illustrated_book_Colors_of_th_-_(MeisterDrucke-1275151).jpg "The First Day of Business (Akinai hajime), from the Illustrated Book \"Colors of the Triple Dawn (Saishiki mitsu no asa)\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
_from_the_illustrated_book_Colors_of_th_-_(MeisterDrucke-1275151).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1275787).jpg "Kamioki, from the series \"A Brocade of Eastern Manners\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Miyanoshita, from the series")
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_from_the_series_Beauties_Illustrating_the_Four_Social_Classes_(_-_(MeisterDrucke-1292401).jpg "The Artisan from the series")
_from_the_series_Beauties_Illustrating_the_Four_Social_Classes_(_-_(MeisterDrucke-1292401).jpg)
.jpg "A Young Nobleman, His Mother, and Three Servants, from the series")
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_from_the_series_Fashionable_Twelve_Seasons_(Furyu_juni_-_(MeisterDrucke-1277357).jpg "The Fifth Month (Satsuki), from the series \"Fashionable Twelve Seasons\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
_from_the_series_Fashionable_Twelve_Seasons_(Furyu_juni_-_(MeisterDrucke-1277357).jpg)
_from_the_series_Fashionable_Twelve_Months_(Furyu_jun_-_(MeisterDrucke-1281333).jpg "The Sixth Month (Minatsuki), from the series \"Fashionable Twelve Months\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
_from_the_series_Fashionable_Twelve_Months_(Furyu_jun_-_(MeisterDrucke-1281333).jpg)
_from_the_series_A_Collection_of_Contemp_-_(MeisterDrucke-1295731).jpg "Cooling off at Nakasu, from the series")
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.jpg "Carrying a lantern sponsored by the Kojimachi, from the series \"The Festival of the Sanno Shrine\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_from_the_series_Eight_Scenes_-_(MeisterDrucke-1279675).jpg "Geese Descending in Mid Autumn, from the series")
_from_the_series_Eight_Scenes_-_(MeisterDrucke-1279675).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1290066).jpg "Woman After a Bath, from \"Comparison of Alluring Beauties\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Soga no Goro and Segawa Kikunojo III as Tsukisayo, in the play")
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.jpg "Brothel Client with Courtesan by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "No. 4: Chinese Boys Playing a Raffle Game, from the series \"Children Say")
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_as_Chidori_Sawamura_Sojuro_III_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301572).jpg "The Actors Nakayama Kojuro VI as Chidori, Sawamura Sojuro III as Shigemori, and Ichikawa Yaozo III as Yoshibei, in the Shosa \"Fukyoku Edo Geisha,\" Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1785 by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Beauties Under a Maple Tree, from the series")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Minamoto no Yoshiie, in the play")
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.jpg "Yumoto, from the series \"Seven Famous Hot Springs of Hakone\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "The New Year")
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.jpg "Beauties Under a Maple Tree, from the series")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301914).jpg "Ushi-no-gozen, from the series Famous Places of Edo by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "The Courtesan Takigawa of the Ogiya with Her Attendants Onami and Menami, from the series")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1299127).jpg "The Poet Sojo Henjo, from the series")
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.jpg "The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Miyukinosuke, Segawa Kikunojo III as Hatsune-hime, and Ichikawa Danjuro V as Ninnaji no Saibei, in the Joruri")
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.jpg "The Nakamise Shopping Street, from the series")
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.jpg "Chrysanthemum Festival, from the series \"Precious Children")
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_from_the_illustrated_book_Colors_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301288).jpg "The First Bath of the New Year, from the illustrated book")
_from_the_illustrated_book_Colors_-_(MeisterDrucke-1301288).jpg)
.jpg "The Courtesan Maizumi of the Daimonjiya with Her Attendants Shigeki and Naname, from the series \"Models for Fashion: New Designs as Fresh as Young Leaves (Hinagata wakana no hatsu moyo)\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_from_the_series_Fashionable_Monthly_Visits_to_-_(MeisterDrucke-1286086).jpg "The Twelfth Month, from the series")
_from_the_series_Fashionable_Monthly_Visits_to_-_(MeisterDrucke-1286086).jpg)
.jpg "Morning of Iris, from the series \"Five Festivals in the Pleasure Quarters\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_from_the_series_A_Collection_of_Con_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272132).jpg "Flowers of the Doteshita District, from the series")
_from_the_series_A_Collection_of_Con_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272132).jpg)
.jpg "The Actors Matsumoto Koshiro IV as Ukita Sakingo and Sawamura Sojuro III as the Ghost of the Courtesan Takao, in the play")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1296981).jpg "Tomigaoka, from the series")
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.jpg "Entertainers of Nakazu, from the Series A Collection of Contemporary Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Spring Outing, from the series")
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.jpg "Ono no Komachi, from the series")
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_from_the_series_Floating_World_Versions_of_the_Seven_Komachi_(Ukiyo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272294).jpg "Parrot (Omu), from the series")
_from_the_series_Floating_World_Versions_of_the_Seven_Komachi_(Ukiyo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272294).jpg)
.jpg "Carrying a Lantern Sponsored by the Motozaimoku-cho, from the Series")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1290795).jpg "The Eighth Month, from the series")
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.jpg "An Oiran in Night Attire, Pausing, with One Hand on the Screen that Surrounds Her Bed by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Beauties Under a Maple Tree, from the series")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1294621).jpg "Umeyashiki, from the series Collection of Famous Places in Edo by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284442).jpg "Takata (from the series \"Ten Summer Scenes in Edo\") by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Three Women on a Balcony by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "The Actors Bando Matakuro IV as Chubei, Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Umegawa, and Nakamura Katsugoro as Magoemon, in the play \"Keisei Koibikyaku,\" performed at the Morita Theater in the fifth month, 1783 by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Beauties Under a Maple Tree, from the series")
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_from_the_series_Eight_Fa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1296787).jpg "Evening Snow at Kinryuzan Temple, from the series Eight Fashionable Views of Edo by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Entertainment on a Balcony by the Water at Nakasu, 1783 by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Entertainers of the Tachibana, from the Series A Collection of Contemporary Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_from_the_illustrated_book_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284243).jpg "The First Calligraphy of the New Year (Kissho hajime), from the illustrated book \"Colors of the Triple Dawn (Saishiki mitsu no asa)\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
_from_the_illustrated_book_-_(MeisterDrucke-1284243).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1281749).jpg "The Ninth Month, from the series \"Twelve Months in the South\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
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.jpg "Ferryboat on the Rokugo River by Torii Kiyonaga")
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_from_the_series_Fashionable_Twelve_Signs_of_the_Zodiac_(Furyu_juni_shi_-_(MeisterDrucke-1289697).jpg "Dog, from the series \"Fashionable Twelve Signs of the Zodiac\" by Torii Kiyonaga")
_from_the_series_Fashionable_Twelve_Signs_of_the_Zodiac_(Furyu_juni_shi_-_(MeisterDrucke-1289697).jpg)
_from_the_series_Fashionable_Monthly_Visits_to_Sa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1285069).jpg "The Sixth Month (Kazemachizuki), from the Series")
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