Het verhaal van Genji
ca. 1820 - ca. 1825
Medium
nishikie, with metallic pigments and blindprinting
Dimensions
183; 207
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-c...