Usukumo, by Yashima Gakutei

An image of Usukumo. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and blind embossing. Early 1820s. Poetry by Matsumado no Chie and Bunbunsha. circa 1820 to circa 1823. Ukiyo-e. Notes: From the series of legendary heroines Katsushikaren gakumen fujin awase (Framed paintings of women for the Katsushika Group). The Katsushika poetry group’s symbol is incorporated into the decorative frames around the ‘paintings’. Usukumo was the name adopted by Lady Fujitsubo in the Tale of Genji after she entered a nunnery. Daughter of a former Emperor, she was the consort of Genji’s father, Emperor Kiritsubo, and the first woman that Genji fell in love with. She secretly bore him a son, Reizei, who was declared Crown Prince and later succeeded Genji’s father as Emperor. It was only after Fujitsubo’s death that Reisei learned that Genji was his true father.

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Usukumo. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and blind embossing. Early 1820s. Poetry by Matsumado no Chie and Bunbunsha. circa 1820 to circa 1823. Ukiyo-e. Notes: From the series of legendary heroines Katsushikaren gakumen fujin awase (Framed paintings of women for the Katsushika Group). The Katsushika poetry group’s symbol is incorporated into the decorative frames around the ‘paintings’. Usukumo was the name adopted by Lady Fujitsubo in the Tale of Genji after she entered a nunnery. Daughter of a former Emperor, she was the consort of Genji’s father, Emperor Kiritsubo, and the first woman that Genji fell in love with. She secretly bore him a son, Reizei, who was declared Crown Prince and later succeeded Genji’s father as Emperor. It was only after Fujitsubo’s death that Reisei learned that Genji was his true father.

Image data

Accession Number: P.301-1937
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/20.0
Focal length: 120
Camera: Hasselblad H4D-31
Photographer name: Sam Cole
Image height: 1025 pixels
Image width: 901 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 0.98MB
Exposure time: 1/250
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 20/1
Captured: 2017:09:04 10:09:34

Key words

19th Century blind embossing colour printing Edo Period embossed embossing female Fitz_PDP Gakutei Genji hero heroes heroic heroine heroism Japan Japanese kimono metallic pigment pigment poem poetry poets print surimono The Tale of Genji ukiyo-e Usukumo woman woodblock woodcut Yashima Gakutei

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            The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024)
            "Usukumo, by Yashima Gakutei"
            Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/image/media-2265096962 Accessed: 2024-11-16 18:40:56

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            |title=Usukumo, by Yashima Gakutei
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            University of Cambridge}}

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