Selected Insects

(Mushi erami, 虫選)

Publisher: Arita-ya Seiemon

c. 1843

This series compares beautiful women to various small animals. The women are portrayed against a background of stylized clouds with a poem. The series is listed as number 113 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). These prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban. I am grateful to Ward Pieters for assisting with this section.

	Title: Ants (Ari, あり) Description: Beauty holding fan in front of goldfish pond Inset: Two ants
	Title: Gold beetle (Kogane mushi, こがねむし) Description: Beauty with cats Inset: A yellow and green beetle on blue flowers
	Title: Butterflies (Cho, ちょう) Description: Kneeling woman holding a sprig of cherry blossom and looking at butterflies Inset: Butterflies and yellow flowers
	Title: Snails (Katatsumuri, かたつむり) Description: Standing woman holding up an infant, a lacquered chest at her feet Inset: A snail on a leaf
	Title: Getting in the Way (Ashimatoi, あしまとい) Description: standing woman looks over her shoulder at two dogs fighting over the remains of a fish Inset: Worms and purple flowers

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