The Chapters -The Twilight Beauty c. 1819 - 1820
ryuryukyoshinsai1
toned paper
water colours
ink painting
japan
handmade artwork painting
personal sketchbook
sketchbook drawing
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
sketchbook art
watercolor
"The Chapters - The Twilight Beauty" is a woodblock print by Japanese artist Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, created circa 1819-1820. This small-scale artwork, measuring 7 13/16 × 6 15/16 in., depicts a beautiful fan with delicate cherry blossoms against a background of elegant calligraphy. The intricate design and vibrant colors are characteristic of the ukiyo-e style, which flourished in Edo-period Japan. This print, now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, offers a glimpse into the artistic sensibilities of the time, showcasing the beauty of everyday objects and the appreciation for artistic expression.
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The objects and the three poems above them make reference to three successive chapters of The Tale of Genji, chapters 4, 5, and 6, each of which details Genji’s initial encounter with a girl. In chapter 4 he meets Yūgao (“Twilight Beauty”), who dies soon after they’ve made love, having been possessed by the spirit of one of Genji’s earlier lovers. In chapter 5 he meets Murasaki, a young girl who resembles Genji’s own stepmother, with whom he had an earlier affair. Genji abducts Murasaki and, though they never marry, she becomes the most important love of his life. In the next chapter Genji meets Suetsumuhana (“The Safflower”), a girl of high rank but who lacks grace and thus does not attract Genji.
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