Kogo no Tsubone, from the series "Framed Pictures of Women for the Katsushika Circle (Katsushikaren gakumen fujin awase)"

Art Historical Context

Behold *Kogo no Tsubone*, a captivating color woodblock print by Yashima Gakutei, created around 1822 as part of the series *Framed Pictures of Women for Katsushika Circle (atsushikaren gakumen fujin awase)*. Gakutei, a Osaka-based ukiyo-e artist, specialized in elegant depictions of women and landscapes, blending delicate lines with poetic refinement. This intimate shikishiban-format print—square and luxurious—portrays Kogo no Tsubone, a historical court lady from Japan's Heian period, framed as if in a picture within a picture, evoking the refined tastes of Edo-period poetry enthusiasts. As a *surimono*, or privately commissioned print, it was likely produced for the Katsushika Circle, a group of literati who exchanged such works during New Year's celebrations. These prints often featured mica dusting, embossing, and vibrant colors from multiple woodblocks, showcasing the pinnacle of woodblock printing artistry. Measuring just 21.7 × 19.2 cm, its small scale invited close admiration, highlighting Gakutei's mastery of subtle shading and graceful poses. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this piece reflects surimono's cultural role in fostering artistic patronage outside commercial ukiyo-e, bridging poetry, history, and visual beauty in 19th-century Japan. A gem for lovers of bijin-ga (beautiful women prints), it whispers of elegance across centuries.

About the Artist

Yashima Gakutei · 1786–1868

Yashima Gakutei (c. 1786–1868), born in Osaka as the illegitimate son of a Tokugawa shogunate samurai named Hirata, adopted the name from his mother's subsequent marriage into the Yashima clan. Little is documented about his early years beyond these familial ties, but he pursued artistic training under the esteemed ukiyo-e masters Totoya Hokkei and Katsushika Hokusai, absorbing their precision in ...