{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78123"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78123/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AP9176/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AP9176/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AP9176","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GG4618","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GG4881","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AN5098","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78123/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78123","accessionNumber":"E.1053-1963","objectType":"Woodblock print","titles":[{"title":"'Lovers reading a letter' ","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>Woodblock prints such as this were produced in large numbers in 18th- and19th-century Japan. They were created by artists, block cutters and printers working independently to the instructions of specialist publishers.This print was published in the 1760s when the techniques of full-colour printing were being perfected. Prints such as this are sometimes called <i>ukiyo-e</i>, which means 'pictures of the floating world'.This world was one of transient delights and changing fashions centred on the licensed pleasure districts and popular theatres found in the major cities of Japan.<br><br><b>Subjects Depicted</b><br>Suzuki Harunobu, the artist of this print, was well known for his portrayals of young lovers. Here we see an intimate scene in an apartment in the Yoshiwara, the licensed brothel district of Edo (modern day Tokyo). It is winter and the bamboo trees outside the window are laden with snow. The plum blossoms that decorate the courtesan's kimono also allude to the season. She sits, with her <i>obi</i> (sash) casually tied at the front, at a <i>kotatsu</i> (brazier) covered with a <i>futon</i> (quilt), reading one end of a long scroll letter. Her lover kneels at her side, keeping warm under the covers, reading the other end of the letter.","physicalDescription":"Woodblock print. Chūban format, benizuri-e (limited colour print). Two figures in interior setting. \r\n","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Suzuki Harunobu","id":"A7011"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"woodblock print","id":"x38448"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Woodblock print on paper","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AP9176","2013GG4618","2013GG4881","2006AN5098"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES393797"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Woodblock print","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Edo","id":"x32430"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1768","earliest":"1763-01-01","latest":"1772-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Lady Evelyn Malcolm","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"unframed","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"19","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"unframed","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 07/11/2000 by PaperCons","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Signed 'Harunobu ga' ('Drawn by Harunobu')","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8877"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Made by Suzuki Harunobu (probably born in Edo (present day Tokyo), 1725, died there in 1770)","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Woodblock print, 'Lovers reading a letter' by Suzuki Harunobu (1724–1770), Japan, Edo (Tokyo), c.1768","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nWOODBLOCK PRINTS<br>\nJapanese woodblock prints were avidly collected in the late 19th century.  To a Victorian audience they revealed a different world depicted in an entirely new way. The style, composition and subject matter of the prints had a huge influence on artists working in Britain.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["E.1053-1963"],"accessionNumberNum":"1053","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1963,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP7235","2019LP4861","2019LU2169"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-14","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":true}}