Murasaki Shikibu c. 1843 - 1846

print, ink, color-on-paper

print

graffiti art

street art

japan

mural art

handmade artwork painting

ink

color-on-paper

urban art

naive art

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

cartoon carciture

watercolor

This uchiwa-e (fan print) by renowned Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige, titled "Murasaki Shikibu", depicts the celebrated author of the eleventh-century novel "The Tale of Genji" gazing out at a scenic vista. Created between 1843 and 1846, the work showcases Hiroshige's mastery of woodblock printing, characterized by vibrant colors and meticulous detail. The composition balances a tranquil seascape with the figure of Murasaki Shikibu, capturing the essence of classical Japanese literature and the beauty of the natural world.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

This print is part of a series featuring the so-called Thirty-Six Immortal Poetesses, a celebrated group of ancient women poets that includes Murasaki Shikibu, the author of The Tale of Genji. The red cartouche at upper right includes one of her poems, which reads, “Ever since the evening / my dear friend / turned to smoke, / even the name of Shiogama Bay / brings back memories.” In this poem, Murasaki draws a link between the cremation of a friend and the smoke that hangs over the famous northeastern salt-making town of Shiogama. For this print, Utagawa Hiroshige reimagined the typical depiction of Murasaki on a temple veranda overlooking Lake Biwa (where she is said to have begun writing The Tale of Genji), replacing Lake Biwa with a scene of smoke rising from huts along the coast of Shiogama.