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 (), 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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