Kitagawa Utamaro (Japan, 1753-1806) Print, oban tate-e, from the series Ōmi hakkei (逢身八契), Eight views of amorous encounters, plate Sankatsu Hanshichi no bosetsu (三勝半七の母節), Maternal love of Sankatsu and Hanshichi. Signed Utamaro hitsu. Publisher Ōmiya Gonkurō. Circa 1798-1799 (Minor restorations). Size 38,4 x 25,5 cm The title of the series is a pun on the famous theme of the eight views by Omi, renowned for his poetic views around Lake Biwa. The series associates famous suicides in love with the eight views. This is the view from Hira no bosetsu, Snow on Mount Hira. The lovers Minoya Sankatsu and Akaneya Hanshichi are associated with the theme "bosetsu". Once again, this is a play on words with the medallion in the top left-hand corner. The characters used in the title are not the same, although they are pronounced the same, and here they mean 'maternal love'. Earlier theatrical adaptations exist, but the puppet play Hade sugata onna maiginu, created in 1772 and featuring the two lovers, is particularly famous. In this play, Sankatsu and Akaneya plan to commit suicide together, after the latter has been disowned after killing an evil man in an accident. Sankatsu regrets leaving behind their illegitimate child, Otsu, and is shown wiping her tears. The play is based on real events that took place in Osaka in 1695. Reference: A similar print in the New York Public Library, no. 93873