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Okame—a popular conception of the Shinto deity Ame no Uzume no Mikoto—throwing beans in the annual demon-chasing ceremony.
This curious fan which quite possibly is an authentic work by Sharaku, has a background of light gray mica, or mica over light gray. It seems to have been printed in so far as the outlines of the figure and the signature are concerned, but the costume and comb are hand colored in black and gray and yellow.
The poem has been translated as follows: “As the mountains are so high there is no fear that a storm will injure the flowers in the ravine.” This is, however, a play on words, which makes the double entendre of the lines signify that Okame’s small nose is protected by her over-hanging cheeks.
Signed: Sharaku. Size: 15¾ inches between the upper corners.
The Art Institute of Chicago (Buckingham Collection).
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