JAPANESE ART > UKIYO-E WOODBLOCK PRINTS > THE SAFFLOWER

Lot 00551
N.1 ukiyo-e woodblock print

Ogata Gekko

THE SAFFLOWER

Year: 1892
Condition: very good
Size: 24 x 35 cm

SOLD

Elegant polychrome woodblock print of vertical large oban (大判) format dedicated to the sixth chapter of Genji Monogatari (源氏物語) entitled "Suetsumuhana" (末摘花), the archaic Japanese word for the safflower, which on this occasion is also a reference to the famous "red-nosed princess". In the inset at the top right we read the following verses taken precisely from the original text of the aforementioned chapter: 「なつかしき / 色ともなしに / 何にこの / すゑつむ花を / 袖に触れけむ」 that is... Although its color / had no charm for me, / why ever / did my sleeves / touch this safflower?

The work is taken from "The 54 Chapters of The Tale of Genji" (源氏五十四帖), a series of prints made in 1892 by the artist Ogata Gekko (尾形月耕) and dedicated to the masterpiece of Japanese literature written in 11th century by the court lady Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部).

The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), produced by the publisher Yokoyama Ryohachi (横山良八), despite the right patina of time is in very good general condition.

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