Women of the Ôbishiya House, 1776

Virtually confined to the Yoshiwara and forbidden to leave without permission until their term of service (typically ten years) was finished, courtesans, we can imagine, took special delight in glimpsing the outside world. Here, with the help of a spyglass, Isawa, Kisakata, Mitsunoho, and Mitsuhana observe Mt. Fuji looming in the distance over snow-covered fields.