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Beneath the Oak, Chapter 46 (Shiigamoto)

Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), 1853, Wood cut
Beneath the Oak, Chapter 46 (Shiigamoto)
Beneath the Oak, Chapter 46 (Shiigamoto)
Beneath the Oak, Chapter 46 (Shiigamoto)
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Category
Library Item
Item no
16241
Title
Beneath the Oak, Chapter 46 (Shiigamoto) from the series "A Modern Collection of Genji in Colour Prints" ("Ima Genji nishiki-e awase")
Description
Mitsuuji (Genji) and a woman wind silk in a lavishly decorated interior, behind them hang curtains patterned with phoenixes and painted screens with lotus designs. The custom of winding silk is frequently associated with the Tanabata Japanese star festival which occurs on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Tanabata refers to the legend of the cow herder and the weaver, who were only able to meet once a year by crossing the heavenly bridge that connected the two sides of the Milky Way.
Mitsuuji stands in front of the curtain wearing a lilac kimono, in his hand he holds a spool wound with red silk thread. A young woman with her hair in bunches is seated on the ground with a larger spool of thread before her. Her under kimono is white and over this she wears a red trimmed loose fitting outer kimono. To her left there is a small black lacquer desk upon which are two scrolls.

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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