Young Woman Viewing Cherry Blossoms as a Mitate of Lady Nakanokimi, c. 1767
Suzuki Harunobuexpand_more
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paperexpand_more
Bequest of Richard P. Galeexpand_more 74.1.89
Not on Viewexpand_more
Probably imagined by Suzuki Harunobu as a companion to the similar parody of Prince Kaoru (74.1.95), this print likely is a contemporary reimagining of Lady Nakanokimi from The Tale of Genji. Lady Nakanokimi is the true love of Prince Kaoru (the boy raised as Genji’s son) but is betrothed to his best friend. In chapter 48, “Early Ferns,” Prince Kaoru sends a carriage to transport Lady Nakanokimi to her purification ceremony that comes before the marriage ceremony. The carriages used by aristocrats in classical Japan, however, were the type of stately oxen-pulled lacquer carriages seen in many of the paintings in this exhibition. Here, the artist Suzuki Harunobu transforms Nakanokimi into a contemporary woman, wearing fashionable clothing, smoking a pipe, and riding in the type of palanquin (covered seat carried by servants) commonly seen in the 1700s when this print was created.
Details
- Title
- Young Woman Viewing Cherry Blossoms as a Mitate of Lady Nakanokimi
- Artist Life
- 1725 - 1770
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 74.1.89
- Catalogue Raisonne
- K758, Ukiyo-e shūka 4 (1979), list #435
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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