Orchid Grass, Chinese Woman, and Bamboo, from the series A Mirror of Stone Rubbings by Famous Artists, Ancient and Modern

This Japanese print reproduces Chinese poems from the Tang and Ming dynasties (618–907 and 1368–1644), accompanied by illustrations. Li Panlong, the author of one of the poems, compiled the "Anthology of Tang-Dynasty Poems," which was one of several books of Chinese poetry that circulated in Japan and became popular among Japanese scholars. Such books promoted an interest in classic Chinese culture amongst the Japanese public. Japanese publishers reprinted them and collaborated with renowned Japanese print artists to offer a greater variety of cultural products, including fiction, poetry, and historical works with illustrations. In the center of Hiroshige’s print is an illustration of a lady whose apparel is neither from the Tang nor Ming periods. The artist depicts her holding a fan with a child next to her, a formula that often appeared in Chinese woodblock prints to depict female deities—here devoid of the religious content. - Chi-Lynn Lin, "Echoing Overseas" label text, Fall 2022