A Woman and a Servant Preparing Greens
Katsukawa Shunchō
Description
Wasabi is the essential seasoning for eating raw fish in Japan. It is a kind of green paste made from fresh ground horseradish. This print depicts a woman pounding the vegetable with a club. The odor is so pungent that she has to cover her nose and mouth. The pervasive aroma has also caused the standing woman to put her sleeve in front of her mouth.
Subject Matter:
The Label Copy details most of the Subject Matter.
The activity of pounding the wasabi vegetable is presumably done by the servant while the woman watched above her.
Physical Description:
As the title suggests, this narrow print depicts two women preparing greens. The woman standing watches over another woman who tends to the vegetables. They both have their hands raised to their mouths. The woman closest to the vegetables holds a long wooden stick and kneels on the ground bent over a flat surface on top of a bucket. There is an inscription on the bottom and two seals to the right.
Usage Rights:
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