No. 30, Hanamurasaki (三十 花紫), from the series “An Excellent Selection of Thirty-six Noted Courtesans” (Meigi sanjūroku kasen 名妓三十六佳撰)
No. 30, Hanamurasaki (三十 花紫), from the series “An Excellent Selection of Thirty-six Noted Courtesans” (Meigi sanjūroku kasen 名妓三十六佳撰)

Currently not on view

No. 30, Hanamurasaki (三十 花紫), from the series “An Excellent Selection of Thirty-six Noted Courtesans” (Meigi sanjūroku kasen 名妓三十六佳撰),

1861 [Man’en 2/Bunkyū 1], 9th month

Utagawa Kunisada 歌川国貞 (Utagawa Toyokuni III 三代歌川豊国), 1786–1865; born and died Tokyo, Japan
Japanese
Edo period, 1603–1868
x1983-62
Ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world) prints include portraits of Kabuki actors (yakusha-e) and beautiful women (bijin-ga). Many of the women were courtesans or geishas. Ukiyo was originally a Buddhist term meaning "sad world," but over time, it evolved to evoke a "floating world." According to Asai Ryoi's Tales of the Floating World (about 1665), "Life is indeed transient; so what better way to spend one's time than in the pursuit of pleasure, like a gourd bobbing along the stream of life." This print, from Toyokuni III's series 36 Famous Geisha, about 1861, captures the tea ceremony, a ritual of Japan's pleasure districts, where men could escape the strictures of Edo society and transport themselves to a different reality. Geisha hostesses were famed for their beauty as well as their education, refinement, and exquisite manners.

Information

Title
No. 30, Hanamurasaki (三十 花紫), from the series “An Excellent Selection of Thirty-six Noted Courtesans” (Meigi sanjūroku kasen 名妓三十六佳撰)
Dates

1861 [Man’en 2/Bunkyū 1], 9th month

Maker
Utagawa Kunisada 歌川国貞 (Utagawa Toyokuni III 三代歌川豊国)
Medium
Woodblock print (ōban tate-e format); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
block: 33 x 22.8 cm. (13 x 9 in.) sheet: 36.8 x 25.2 cm. (14 1/2 x 9 15/16 in.) mat: 49 x 36 cm. (19 5/16 x 14 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Straka
Object Number
x1983-62
Place Made

Asia, Japan

Signatures
Signed lower left: Toyokuni ga
Inscription
Inscriptions Transcription of the texts on the print: Series title: 名妓三十六佳撰 Print title: Hana Murasaki 花紫 版元 蔦屋吉蔵（蔦吉板） いと　みやびこゝろ　ふかく　常に茶を　このみ 日ごと　新造　小ども　ならべて　茶事を おくこと　たのしみとせり　是を　さる 君のきゝて　むくつけき　男子　いで立 客となり来りしを　ただ　座につきし さまをみて　はやくも　茶人といふことを さとり　茶席ふうに　もてなしければ それに　そふたる人々　ふしぎかほ　なし けるをみて　たはむれに　よめる 　　身にばかり 　　　　匂ふはいかに　やみの梅 　菱亭栄中　誌
Culture
Japanese
Period
Edo (Japanese period)
Type
prints, japanese printmaking styles, oban, woodblock prints
Materials
oban, color, ink, paper
Techniques
woodcut (process)
Subject
women, tea ceremonies, geisha, figures (representations), rooms

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