Three Selected Beauties for Pine, Bamboo, and Plum

(Sambijin mitate shôchikubai, 三美人見立松竹梅)

Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô

c. 1843

Pine, Bamboo, and Plum (shôchikubai, 松竹梅), also known as the Three Friends of Winter, is a common subject in Japanese art. The series is listed as number 131 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Title: Pine (Matsu, 松) Description: Standing beauty
	Another state of the above design
	Title: Bamboo (take, 竹) Description: Standing beauty I am grateful to Michel Ouellet for locating this image.
	Another state of bamboo without any purple
	Title: Plum (ume, 梅) Description: Standing beauty looking down at a cat I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

“Robinson” indicates listing in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson, 1961, Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

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