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Red Plum Blossoms, Chapter 43 (Kobai)

Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), 1853, Wood cut
Red Plum Blossoms, Chapter 43 (Kobai)
Red Plum Blossoms, Chapter 43 (Kobai)
Red Plum Blossoms, Chapter 43 (Kobai)
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Category
Library Item
Item no
16238
Title
Red Plum Blossoms, Chapter 43 (Kobai) from the series "A Modern Collection of Genji in Colour Prints" ("Ima Genji nishiki-e awase")
Description
In this image, a man standing on the walkway raises a lantern and watches Mitsuuji (Genji) as he plays a koto. Mitsuuji is seated on a floor cushion with the instrument across his lap. Mitsuuji can be recognised by his lobster tail topknot which has been bound with a purple cord. A small plate of food and a bottle of wine stand on the floor in front of him. Behind Mitsuuji there is a candle stand and a folding screen. Both men are fashionably dressed and wear floral patterned kimono and trousers (hakama) woven using a 'kasuri' dyed thread technique. Blossom is visible through the open doorway.

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
£5.80(inc. VAT 20%)
Digital FileElectronic File 300 dpi TIFF
£29.40(inc. VAT 20%)
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