O-kubi-e (close-up portraits) by Hokusai are rare and this one is taken from the series ‘Furyu nakute nanakuse (every person has their eccentricities)’, which was apparently intended to be a set of seven, but only two designs are known. A samurai wife with a parasol and a young lady, presumably the daughter, are looking through a telescope.

Hokusai used two different background colors - pink for the upper area and beige behind the ladies. The pink enhances the parasol color and the beige complements the ladies’ faces and kimono.

It was not so common in Ukiyo-e beauties’ images to depict teeth, but Hokusai took on the challenge. He shows us their absorption in the telescope - a rare and unique object in those days.