The Suetsumuhana Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Suetsumuhana), from a series of Genji parodies
c. 1710
Medium
Woodblock print; oban, sumizuri-e
Dimensions
27.3 × 38.1 cm (10 3/4 × 15 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19564
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan *The Suetsumuhana from "The Tale ofji" (Genji Suetsumuhana)*, a delightful woodblock print by Okura Masanobu, around 1710. Masanobu, a pioneeringkiyo-e artist, from Murasaki Shikibu's11th-century masterpiece *The Tale of Genji*often called the world's first novel—for this parody series. These playful reinterpretations transformed the court's elegant romances into humorous, accessible scenes from everyday life, poking fun at the noble characters like the flower-obsessed Princess Suetsumuhana. Printed in the large oban format (27.3 × 38.1 cm), thi...
About the Artist
Okumura Masanobu · 1686–1764
Japanese, 1686–1764