Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery - Murasaki Shikibu's Genji Playing Cards: Ch. 37, Yokobue

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URL: web-kiosk.scrippscollege.edu/objects-1/info/18811

Utagawa Kunisada II, Japanese, (1823–1880)
Murasaki Shikibu's Genji Playing Cards: Ch. 37, Yokobue, c. 1850
Ink on Paper
13 in. x 9 3/16 in. (33.02 cm x 23.34 cm)

Object Type: Print

Technique: Wood-block Printing

Period: Edo (Japan, 1615-1868)

Credit Line: Purchased with funds from the Aoki Endowment for Japanese Arts and Cultures

Accession Number: 2001.2.77

Alternate Title: Murasaki Shikibu Genji Karuta: Ch. 37, Yokobue

Edition

Very good impression with gauffrage and a lacquer pattern on the black kimono. Strong woodgrain is visible in the background.

Marks

There is a Genji seal with text within and an oval seal with text in the upper right. A red text banner, two oval seals, and one leaf-shaped seal are in the lower left. There is text printed on the backing paper.

Medium

Colored ink woodblock print on off-white paper. Oban tate-e.

Object Description

Edo period color woodblock print depicting two actors dancing in the foreground, while an actor seated and holding a flute is in the background.

Genji’s son Yugiri is featured in the chapter “Yokobue / The Flute” when he is given custody of his best friend’s musical instrument. Kashiwagi has just died of shame for having cuckolded Genji, and Yugiri not only takes care of Kashiwagi’s prized flute but also his widow.

Publisher

Tsutaya Kichizo.

Keywords Click a term to view the records with the same keyword

This object has the following keywords:

1841-1868, Actors and Actresses, Genji, Music and Dancing