Sunset Glow of the Lamp, from the series Eight Views of the Parlor

The artist Suzuki Harunobu was celebrated for his depictions of fashionable young women and his inclusion of witty literary references in his print designs. Whereas most Eight Views imagery focuses primarily on landscape and atmospheric effects, here Harunobu applies the theme to indoor activities in the less exalted context of Tokyo’s expensive brothels. By substituting a small lamp for the setting sun in this design, the artist acknowledges the pettiness and artificiality of the beauty offered by the so-called pleasure quarters.