Lady Murasaki Sets a Bird Free from a Cage 19th century

"Lady Murasaki Sets a Bird Free from a Cage" is a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Yashima Gakutei (1786-1868). Created in the 19th century, this artwork depicts a woman in traditional Japanese dress setting a bird free from a cage. The woman, likely a representation of Lady Murasaki Shikibu, the author of *The Tale of Genji*, sits with her hand outstretched towards a bird flying away from an open cage. The scene is rendered in a realistic style, capturing the subtle details of the woman's clothing, the bird's feathers, and the intricate patterns of the surrounding foliage. This print, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, exemplifies Gakutei's ability to depict both the elegance of a literary figure and the freedom of nature.