Syllable - Mi from the series Tales of Ise in Fashionable Brocade Prints, c.1770-1773 (woodblock...

From a series of 22 prints illustrating the 11th century novel 'Tales of Ise'. Dominant colour is green to yellow-green, with pale sepia brown and yellow ochre to pale orange. Palace interior. In foreground a lady seated at a low table with writing box and paper with script and a pile of books. To lady's left is shoji recess with lacquer box on sill. Lady is holding a writing brush and is listening to a standing nobleman, gesturing with a fan in his right hand - has clearly entered from veranda. Flowering prunus branch seen in rear. At top corner of each print is a single character (of Kana type) each different and enclosed in circle (0.8cm diameter).