Arkivism
Righteousness, from The Five Virtues
CC0 · no rights reserved

Righteousness, from The Five Virtues

Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1724–1770), artist · 1767 · color woodblock print

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

Two young male courtesans enjoy reading in their quarters by candlelight. One holds an illustrated book recognizable as the drawing manual Illustrated Book of the Treasure-Bag of Sketches (絵本写宝袋), published in 1720 by Tachibana Morikuni (1679–1748). The poem at the top translates as follows: In all things to be humble, discern the path of reason, and abstain from falsehood. This is what we call righteousness.

Cleveland Museum of Art’s own description
Credit lineRighteousness, from The Five Virtues (五常の内 義), 1767. Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1724–1770). Color woodblock print; overall: 36.6 x 21.6 cm (14 7/16 x 8 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith, 1985.307
Open in Explore View at source

Similar works

Righteousness (Gi), from the series "Five Cardinal Virtues"Righteousness (Gi), from the series "Five Cardinal Virtues" Young man reading over the shoulder of a girlYoung man reading over the shoulder of a girl Act Two: The Quarters of Momonoi Wakasanosuke from the play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers)Act Two: The Quarters of Momonoi Wakasanosuke from the play Chushingura (Treasury of the Forty-seven Loyal Retainers) The Artisan (Ko) from the series "Beauties Illustrating the Four Social Classes (Adesugata shi no ko sho)"The Artisan (Ko) from the series "Beauties Illustrating the Four Social Classes (Adesugata shi no ko sho)" Henjo, from the series "Six Immortal Poets (Rokkasen)"Henjo, from the series "Six Immortal Poets (Rokkasen)" Painting, from the series "Fashionable Versions of the Four Accomplishments (Furyu kinkishoga)"Painting, from the series "Fashionable Versions of the Four Accomplishments (Furyu kinkishoga)"