Within Australia
All orders ship freewithin Australia
Rest of the World
Orders over A$300
ship free worldwide
C1884
Chapter 51, Ukifune (A Boat Upon the Waters)
Artist:
Toyohara Kunichika (1835 - 1900)
Kunichicka’s interpretation of Chapter 51 from, Tale of Genji, titled, Ukifune,– “A Boat Upon the Waters”. In this chapter Kaoru secretly installs Ukifune at the house in Uji. He would much prefer to have her nearer, but he needs time … Read Full Description
Sold
Free Shipping
See Shipping page for Terms & Conditions
Details
Full Title:
Chapter 51, Ukifune (A Boat Upon the Waters)
Date:
C1884
Artist:
Toyohara Kunichika (1835 - 1900)
Condition:
Narrow margins, otherwise in good condition.
Technique:
Woodblock
Image Size:
230mm
x 350mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1884
Description:
Kunichicka’s interpretation of Chapter 51 from, Tale of Genji, titled, Ukifune,– “A Boat Upon the Waters”.
In this chapter Kaoru secretly installs Ukifune at the house in Uji. He would much prefer to have her nearer, but he needs time to prepare a house for her and to allow her to compose herself. Haste would only invite scandal.
Ukifune’s brief encounter with Niou has meanwhile made an equally powerful impression on the prince. Despite Nakanokimi’s refusal to surrender any information, he is determined to discover where and who she is. He intercepts a couple of letters from Uji, makes a few discreet enquires, and finally learns that Kaoru has a mysterious woman hidden at Uji. Setting out on a clandestine trip to Uji, Niou discovers that she is the same woman he saw at Nijo. Imitating Kaoru’s voice, he cleverly steals in on Ukifune.
During a time of heavy snow, Niou visits Ukifune and carries her off to the Iset of Oranges. It is the most famous of all illustrations of the Tale of Genji, where as their boat approaches the shore, Niou admires the rich, long-lasting green of the pine trees. Ukifune responds with a poem; “The colours remain, here on the Islet of Oranges./ But where go I, a boat upon the waters?” Hidden from the world they spend two days together.
Ukifune is dazzled by Niou’s considerable charm, but she cannot forget Kaoru’s depth and nobility. Her dilemma becomes increasingly unbearable as both men make arrangements to bring to her to the city. Ukifune saw doom approaching. …
One or the other of the two men was certain to be made desperately unhappy, and the obvious solution was for her to disappear”
Series Fifty-Four Modern Feelings (Matched with the Fifty-Four Chapters of Genji)
Publisher Takegawa Seikichi
Biography:
Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900)
Kunichika was a leading Japanese woodblock print artist and highly influential.
Talented as a child, at about thirteen he became a student of Tokyo’s then leading print maker Utagawa Kunisada. He produced numerous wood blocks of popular and famous Kabuki plays and actors of which he was very knowledgeable of. of kabuki actors and scenes from popular plays of the time. Kunichika also made many bijinga (beautiful women) woodblocks.
