"Woman as the Poet Funya No Yasuhide", 1793-1794

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Eishi was a member of a samurai family. Perhaps as a result of the protracted peace under Tokugawa rule, he studied painting under the shōgun's court- appointed artist, Kanō Eisen (1696-1731) and eventually was recognized for his own painting accomplishments. Despite this reputable background, Eishi seems to have had a particular interest in designing prints and paintings in the ukiyo-e style, a predilection that caused him to resign his hereditary position. His images of women are admired for their elegance and restraint. He also revived the practice of depicting modern women in the guise of famous poets from Japan's classical past, a theme popular among early ukiyo-e artists. Here he depicts a woman as the 9th century poet Bunya no Yasuhide. She holds a lacquered cap of the type typically worn by courtiers like Yasuhide. His poem, first recorded in the Kokinwakashū of 906, appears above:

Wind blown from a mountain
Storming around the autumn field
That may be why the word "storm"
Consists of the characters of
Wind and mountain

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Details
Title
"Woman as the Poet Funya No Yasuhide"
Artist Life
1756 - 1829
Role
Artist
Accession Number
74.1.162
Provenance
FYP (unidentified); Richard P. Gale (until 1974)
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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