The Bell Cricket (Chapter 38) Part of the series Lady Murasaki Genji Cards
[Tokyo]: 1857. Woodblock print in ink on lightweight paper, 25.5 cm x 35 cm (including border), hinge mounted to cream-coloured card. The artwork is presented in a cream-coloured folder with a window in the front cover. A faint watermark is detectable in the upper third of the print, otherwise a near-fine copy with vibrant colour. This print is one in a series of over 50 designs by the artist Utagawa Kunisada II (1786-1864) depicting scenes from the classic Japanese novel The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. Murasaki, who was a noblewoman, poet and lady-in-waiting in the early 11th century, was the first woman in Japan to become known for her writing and is much respected to this day.
This series by Kunisada II (also known as Toyokuni III) is titled Lady Murasaki Genji Cards and is considered to be his best work. Each design illustrates a chapter in Murasaki's beloved drama about the life of Prince Genji, a nobleman of the Minamoto clan during the Heian era.
This elegant design representing Chapter 38 depicts Genji struggling to accept that the beautiful woman he loves is to become a nun. Soft warm tones of orange, yellow, peach and chocolate depict the characters and setting, and are complimented by shades of dusty blue, grey and black. The design is surrounded by a pale, tonal yellow patterned border. The double shell symbol in the upper left corner denotes the chapter and scene.
Kunisada II's evocative illustrations in this series offers the viewer insight into the life of Genji (high courtiers) during Japan's Heian era. Item #4977
Signed "Baichôrô Kunisada ga" in toshidama cartouches.
Price (AUD): $500.00