A Girl Writing a Letter

A Girl Writing a Letter

Suzuki Harunobu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The seated young woman has been writing what is probably a love letter, but she attempts to hide it from the man who has just entered. The painting on the sliding screen behind the figures provides Harunobu with the opportunity to elaborate on the theme of letter writing by alluding to a classical episode from ancient Chinese history. Su Wu (J.: Sobu), a Chinese general of the Han period (206 B.C.–A.D. 220), was captured by invading forces and held captive for nineteen years in Central Asia. He was ultimately rescued by his people, who had received Su Wu's messages by geese, which functioned like carrier pigeons in Asia. By invoking the plight of Su Wu, Harunobu's print suggests that the present letter was also intended to be the crucial link in a dramatic adventure, had the young man not discovered it.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.