Prostitute of Osaka, Left Sheet, c. 1745, Ishikawa Toyonobu; Publisher: Urokogataya Magobei, Japanese, 1711 - 1785, 27 7/16 ¡Ñ 9 3/4 in. (69.7 ¡Ñ 24.8 cm) (image, sheet, kakemono-e), Woodblock print (beni-e); ink on paper, with hand-applied color, Japan, 18th century, This print was originally one of a set of three prints. In each print, a young female attendant accompanies a sumptuously dressed woman who is meant to embody one of Japan's major cities: Osaka (shown here), Kyoto, and Edo. In the case of Osaka, the attendant carries a sake ewer and a cup on a ceremonial serving stand. Her mistress seems to be engrossed in a love letter. Each of the prints also bears a poem that associates a flower or tree with the city. In this example, the poem likens the whitened faces of prostitutes to plum blossoms in early springtime.