Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770) | Visual Parody of the Calligrapher Ono no Tofu | Edo period, 18th century

Ono no Tofu (894-964), a court calligrapher, considers resigning from the court. Whilst strolling by a stream he sees a determined frog repeatedly attempt a high upward leap to reach a willow branch. After many failed attempts, the frog finally succeeds and Ono no Tofu is so inspired by its perseverance he decides to continue at court. In this print, Harunobu depicts the poet as a young woman holding a parasol.

This design was originally a calendar print for 1765. The present lot is the second state, lacking the signature. For further reading, see David Waterhouse, The Harunobu Decade, (The Netherlands, 2013), Volume 1, p. 291.

For another impression of the second state in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, P.13,703, go to:

https://collections.artsmia.org/art/49471/visual-parody-of-the-calligrapher-ono-no-tofu-suzuki-harunobu