This is an image of Morning Haze at Asakusa, from the set "Eight Sophisticated Views of Edo".
Harunobu has depicted a thin and graceful beauty in the center of the print. In this print the girl is coyly flirting with a young samurai. She is elegantly dressed, though her clothes don't have very bright colors or attracting patterns. Some ginko leaves are in the foreground, so we as viewers can more easily identify Ofuji, who was known as the “ginko girl.” On the right side of the print the young samurai wearing a black cloak is leaning backward to look at her. Both the girl and the samurai have tiny hands, and both of them hide one of their hands. In the background, Ofuji is posed against a graceful willow tree, bringing out the best in each other and signifying her youth and pliability as well. Some critics say that this refers to the "willow world", "the world of the pleasure district to which she belonged". Looking at the pattern of their clothes, you will notice that the texture of the their clothes seem to be different and resemble real brocades. In fact, Harunobu was and innovator who produced full-color prints, (nishiki-e, brocade prints). I like the background with poems and calligraphy, which gives the whole print a poetic sense and elegance.
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