Allusion to the Noh Play Hachinoki (Potted Trees) 見立鉢の木みたてはち　き

Description

This scene alludes to a Noh play in which a poor samurai gives lodging to a travelling priest. In an act of selflessness, the samurai cuts three potted trees that he has cherished in order to warm his home for the priest.

This ukiyo-e woodblock print is the work of Suzuki Harunobu, an artist active during the mid-Edo period.
A young woman dressed in a furisode garment sits on a pavilion amid a snowy scene. An older woman crouches in the garden as she looks back at her younger counterpart. Her obi belt is fastened at the front, which suggests she is a courtesan. She holds a cutting tool in her right hand and she is working on the branches of the snow-capped pot bonsai trees. What do you think is happening here?
This is actually a parody of the Noh Play Hachinoki, or 'Potted Trees.' In the play, a poor warrior welcomes a travelling priest into his house on snow-filled night. The warrior then burns his beloved potted trees to warm his guest. It turns out the priest was actually the military general Hojo Tokiyori and he later rewards the warrior by returning his lost lands and giving him some new estates.
This is an example of a 'mitate,' or a parody depicting ancient stories or anecdotes in a contemporary light. They were popular during the Edo period and were often depicted in ukiyo-e works. Many contemporary viewers would have instantly recognized this as a parody of Hachinoki.
A further highlight here is the way the white of the paper has been skillfully utilized to express snow. Note how the snow on the ground and potted plants is imbued with an uneven, fluffy softness. The artist has used a technique called 'kimedashi,' whereby the paper is placed face down against a concave printing block and then pressed from behind to create raised sections.