The general condition is good. The color has not faded and remains quite clear and vivid. There are a few minor stains, but none that are significant. There are no wrinkles or fixes. Embossing was used to decorate the background.
The subject of this print is Hotaru ("Fireflies"), the twenty-fifth chapter of The Tale of Genji.
In this scene, Genji and Lady Tamakatsura (玉鬘) are depicted conversing outdoors. The glowing fireflies scattered around them evoke the title of the chapter.
At the top of the print, a fan-shaped cartouche contains a waka poem from the chapter:
「こゑはせて身をのみ焦かす蛍こそいふよりまさる思ひなるらめ」
Koehasete / mi wo nomi kogasu / hotaru koso / ifu yori masaru / omohi narurame
“Without a voice, the firefly burns its own body
a silent yearning, deeper than words could ever express.”
The general condition is good. The color has not faded and remains quite clear and vivid. There are a few minor stains, but none that are significant. There are no wrinkles or fixes. Embossing was used to decorate the background.
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Series | Traces of fifty four scenes from Genji. (Omokage Genji gojūyonchō, 俤げんじ五十四帖). |
Author | Utagawa Kunisada II (二代目国貞), here signed as Baichōrō Kunisada (梅蝶楼国貞). |
Size | Ōban (大判) 36,1cm x 24cm (14,21 x 9,44 kinches). |
Publisher | Tsutaya Kichizo (蔦屋吉蔵), here as Tsutakichi han (蔦吉版). |
Number | 25/54 |
Genre | Genji-e (源氏絵), mitate-e (見立絵), kasen-e (歌仙絵). |
Period | C. 1864. |
Trimmed | Yes |
Backed | No |
Code | UKSII02001 |