The Third Princess (Onna San no Miya) 1761 - 1781

This woodblock print, 'The Third Princess,' was created by Ippitsusai Bunchō in the late 18th century. The delicate depiction of a noblewoman gazing melancholically downward draws us into a world of refined sorrow. The flowers adorning her hair are more than mere decoration; they are potent symbols of transient beauty, akin to those blossoms woven into the hair of Botticelli’s Venus, yet here they speak not of joyous birth but of ephemeral existence. Observe the small dog tethered to her; a symbol of fidelity, yes, but its constrained position hints at the emotional restraints binding the princess. Such symbols resonate across centuries. The bowed head, a universal gesture of sorrow, echoes in countless works, from ancient Roman sculptures of mourning figures to Renaissance depictions of the grieving Mary. These recurring motifs evoke a shared human experience, engaging viewers on a subconscious level with the psychological weight of sorrow. The image is a testament to how symbols evolve, capturing both the specificity of its time and a timeless echo of human emotion.