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The Ivy, Chapter 49 (Yadorigi)

Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), 1853, Wood cut
The Ivy, Chapter 49 (Yadorigi)
The Ivy, Chapter 49 (Yadorigi)
The Ivy, Chapter 49 (Yadorigi)
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Category
Library Item
Item no
16244
Title
The Ivy, Chapter 49 (Yadorigi) from the series "A Modern Collection of Genji in Colour Prints" ("Ima Genji nishiki-e awase")
Description
Mitsuuji (Genji) is depicted seated within a ground floor interior. Mitsuuji is identifiable by his lobster tail topknot that has been fastened with a purple cord. He is busy adding strings to his koto (Japanese zither) while a woman in the garden prunes the flowers with her pinking shears. The sliding screens of the villa have been drawn back to allow Mitsuuji a view of the walkway and garden. Behind Mitsuuji there is a panel decorated with 'Genji-ko', one of a number of linear designs constructed from incense sticks that are associated with specific chapters from Murasaki Shikibu's 'Tale of Genji'. Mitsuuji is shown wearing a grey kimono decorated with his crest of crossed cloves, and a red and yellow floral pattern. The young woman in the garden wears blue flowers in her headdress and her red long sleeved kimono bears an undulating river and peony pattern. Her black obi belt has been modestly tied behind her. The garden is very simple consisting of raked stones and a few cultivated flowering plants.

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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