ISODA KORYUSAI (1735-1790)

A courtesan dressed in an elaborate kimono decorated with peacock feathers has fallen asleep next to her writing table and dreams of Mount Fuji, a falcon, and aubergines. Hatsuyume is the first dream one has in the new year and according to tradition the contents of hatsuyume would foretell the luck of the dreamer during the ensuing year. A dream of Mount Fuji, a hawk and aubergines is considered especially good luck, one reason being that Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain, the hawk is a strong and intelligent bird, and the word for aubergine (nasu or nasubi) suggests achieving something great. The same print is in the collection of The British Museum, accession no. 1907,0531,0.369.