Untitled

Chōbunsai Eishi

ca. 1790 · Two sheets from a triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

This triptych is typical of the yatsushi, or the amusing disguise of one figure or scene as another. A gorgeous operatic pageant of beautiful ladies is presented here as one of the happiest scenes from The Tale of Genji. This is the last chapter of the first half of the Genji, which relates a series of climactic events culminating with the success of the Shining Prince, a success that is to lead rapidly to catastrophe in succeeding chapters. Here, Yugiri, the Shining Prince's son, has won the love of Kumoinokari, a daughter of Tōno-Chujo, at a wisteria party.

Artist

Chōbunsai Eishi

Date

ca. 1790

Medium

Two sheets from a triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1914