Skip to content

The Maidens (Otome) Chapter 21

Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), 1853, Wood cut
The Maidens (Otome) Chapter 21
The Maidens (Otome) Chapter 21
The Maidens (Otome) Chapter 21
Share
Category
Library Item
Item no
16214
Title
The Maidens (Otome) Chapter 21 from the series "A Modern Collection of Genji in Colour Prints" ("Ima Genji nishiki-e awase")
Description
Two women and a young girl are shown relaxing and watching the carp from a bridge that connects with a private establishment. They appear to be customers at an elegant teahouse. A serving woman, modestly dressed in a black kimono, has brought out a plate of food to the women.
The youngest girl is depicted crouching by the bridge railing. She wears a blue and white floral kimono with a swirling red motif, and a large obi belt. Next to the girl, stands a woman wearing a grey and white checkerboard patterned kimono. This textile pattern would have been created using a woven dyed thread technique known as 'kasuri' (ikat). The woman in the foreground is also shown kneeling and she wears a red floral kimono with tie dyed (shibori) detail. All three women wear red bows in their hair.
The distant shore of the bay is visible in the background.
This image derives from the serial novel or 'gokan', 'A Fake Murasaki and a Rustic Genji' (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) written by Ryutei Tanehiko and illustrated by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), that was published between 1829-1842. This story reworks elements from the 'Tale of Genji' and transposes the action from the Heian period (794-1185) to the time of the Muromachi era's Onin Wars (1467-1477).
Artist / maker
Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)
Date
1853
Size
27.9 x 19.8 cm
Type
Location
Art and Design Library
Rights and purchasing
Option
Price
Digital FileElectronic file 72 dpi JPEG​
£7.32(inc. VAT 20%)
Digital FileElectronic File 300 dpi TIFF​
£37.20(inc. VAT 20%)
You can view and use digital images for personal and educational use. For more information, read our policy on image use. If you wish to use our images for commercial use, please contact us.