Het verhaal van Genji

About this artwork

collector's mark, verso, stamped: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

Welcome to *Het verhaal van Genji (The Tale of Gen), a delicate ukiyo-e woodblock by the Japanese artist Karyôs Hokuga, created around 1820–1825 Japan's late Edo period. This draws from Murasaki Shikibu's11th-century masterpiece, world's first novel, which chronicles the romantic intrigues of Prince Genji at the Heian court. Hokuga, working in the vibrant "floating world" tradition of ukiyo-e, the elegance and melancholy of this timeless story in a compact format (207 × 183 mm), ideal for personal appreciation in urban households. The print exemplifies *nishikie*, or "brocade pictures"—full-color woodblock prints renowned for their jewel-like hues achieved through multiple carved blocks. Hokuga enhances the luxury with metallic pigments, likely gold or silver, evoking the opulence of imperial Japan, and blindprinting (gauffrage), a karazuri technique that adds subtle embossed textures without ink, lending a tactile, three-dimensional quality. These innovations, perfected in the 18th–19th centuries, made ukiyo-e accessible yet artistically sophisticated art for the masses. Bearing a collector's mark (Lugt 2228) on the verso—likely from esteemed Dutch connoisseur Frits Lugt—this piece bridges Japanese craftsmanship with European admiration, highlighting the global allure of Genji illustrations. A window into Heian romance and Edo ingenuity!