Thirty-Six Immortal Poetesses, 17th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Ink, color and gold on silkexpand_more
Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundationexpand_more 2015.79.32
Not on Viewexpand_more
When the courtier Fujiwara Kintō (996-1075) designated thirty-six writers from Japan's past as "Immortal Poets," there were only a few women included in the group. Later compilations, however, sometimes featured only women, as is the case with this exquisite album. An unknown artist rendered imaginary portraits of the women, and their poems, within small fan shapes. The women are painted in surprising detail given their miniature scale. A poem by Izumi Shikibu, a 10th century noblewoman, is on the right, and one by Lady Nijō-in no Sanuki (1141'-1217) is on the left:
Living my everyday life I’m at such a loss;
is hard enough Fireflies by the marsh.
without hearing the sad sound From my breast
of the first cold rain on my wooden roof. wanders out
How easily it comes and goes. my soul, or so it seems.
Details
- Title
- Thirty-Six Immortal Poetesses
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.79.32
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 55
- Curator Approved
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