Falsehood and Truth Both Sides of the Heart

(Uso to ma go kokoro no ura-omote, 嘘と真言心の裏表)

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

c. 1848

In this series, a beautiful woman (bijin) is shown in the main picture living out a falsehood (虚), but the truth (事実) in her heart is shown in the inset picture. The series is listed as number 106 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Truth: My mouth feels dirty because the dog licked it Inscription: Lie: Oh, your dog is so well-groomed! I am an absolute pet lover. Look how we got friends right away! Animals can feel if one likes them! Don’t jump that high! Why are you doing this? I am getting sick. You are even licking and nuzzling up my face. Oh well, you are such a cutie, I will forgive you. Truth: Mother, listen to me! I am coming from Ms. Ofukus home. Her Pekinese was licking my mouth! That was so horrible! Ugh, dirty, dirty! I absolutely hate this Pekinese. I am wondering how Ms. Ofuku can even keep such a hideous creature! Maid, get me the washtub, quick! I am so dirty, dirty! What a disgusting smell! Even now I can still taste it inside my mouth. I will never go to Ms. Ofukus place again as long as there will be this nasty Pekinese around. I am fed up with its dirty little face, its squashed nose and its suppurating eyes! Ugh, that is so revolting!
	Truth: I am having an illicit relationship Description: Woman in high sandals looking over her shoulder Inset: Woman wrapped up in robes with a cat in her lap
	Another state of the above design
	Description: Young woman wearing a furisode (formal kimono for unmarried girls and women) is feeding pigeons Inset: Woman partially covering her face
	Another state of the above design
	Description: Woman holding a red dish, a cat cleaning itself behind her Inset: Standing woman holding an umbrella
	Another state of the above design
	Description: Woman bent at the waist with her hands on her thighs; cat and household furnishings behind her Inset: Woman working with cloth on her knees
	Truth: I am dog tired Description: Woman using a tree branch as a walking stick with a sitting dog behind her Inset: Woman on her hands and knees
	Description: Kneeling woman with her left arm extended and holding a purse in her right hand Inset: Seated woman eating a meal at a table with her outer robe pulled down to her waist
	Description: Standing woman looking down on a tray of fish and lobster with a snarling cat behind her Inset: Woman on her knees
	Description: Woman on her knees holding a koto and reaching for items in front of her Inset: Woman on her knees
	Description: Woman standing and stretching with writing implements behind her Inset: Seated woman holding a brush

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