A Girl Brings a Love Letter to Another Girl Under a Pine-Tree 1760 - 1780

This woodblock print by Isoda Koryūsai captures a tender moment of affection, depicting a girl delivering a love letter to another beneath a pine tree. The pine, an emblem of steadfastness and longevity in Japanese art, casts a silent blessing over this intimate exchange. Consider how this motif of the pine transcends cultures. From ancient Roman gardens, where pines symbolized immortality, to Renaissance paintings where they denoted virtue, the pine’s unwavering presence speaks to our enduring quest for permanence amidst the fleeting nature of life. The exchange of letters is also charged with meaning. From Sappho’s verses to secret missives exchanged during the Renaissance, the act of writing and delivering a love letter is charged with erotic anticipation and desire. This image shows us how we project our deepest desires onto the symbols around us, seeking to immortalize ephemeral emotions.