Acht vlietende wereld gezichten van het Genji verhaal.

About this artwork

Vrouw met voorwerp uit doosje in handen, knielend bij koto (Japans snaarinstrument); op de achtergrond meisje een bamboe gordijn oprollend. In waaiervormig cartouche rechtsboven landschap met waterval en pijnbomen tussen wolken.

Art Historical Context

**Hosoda Eishi's "Acht vlietende wereldichten van het Genji" (Eight Views of the Floating World the Tale of Genji)** Created between 1793 and 1797 during Japan's Edo period, this color woodcut by Hosoda Eishi exemplifies ukiyo-e tradition—"pictures of the floating world"—uring fleeting moments of beauty and elegance. Eishi, a master of bijin-ga (images of beautiful women), drew inspiration from *The Tale of Genji the world's first novel by Murasaki Shikibu,using classical literature with contemporary grace. Printed on a vertical ōban sheet (382 × 250 mm), it reflects the booming woodblock print culture of late 18th-century Tokyo, where affordable art democratized high culture for urban audiences. In this intimate scene, a refined woman kneels beside a koto, Japan's traditional stringed instrument, delicately holding an object from a small box—perhaps a plectrum—evoking quiet musical poise. Behind her, a young attendant rolls up a bamboo curtain, unveiling a fan-shaped cartouche in the upper right: a misty landscape of a cascading waterfall flanked by pine trees amid swirling clouds. Eishi's precise lines and vibrant colors, achieved through layered woodblocks, highlight subtle textures like silk kimonos and bamboo slats, blending domestic serenity with nature's drama. This print's cultural significance lies in its fusion of literary heritage and everyday refinement, offering visitors a window into Heian-era romance reimagined in the vibrant "floating world." A testament to ukiyo-e's technical innovation, it invites contemplation of beauty's transience. (198 words)

About the Artist

Hosoda Eishi · 1756–1829

Japanese, 1756–1829