Lady Tamamushi

About this artwork

This print depicts a well-known scene from the famous warrior saga of the 12th century, the Tale of Heike. Here, Lady Tamamushi displays a sacred fan as she stands defiantly on the brow of a ship. She is challenging Nasu no Yoichi to destroy the fan by shooting an arrow at the pin that holds it together. He cannot aim at the fan itself since it is decorated with an image of the sun disc, and, according to temple priests, it was therefore protected from harm. The numbers for the short months of ...

Art Historical Context

**Lady Tamamushi is a captivating color woodblock print from 1765, created by an unknown artist during Japan's Edo period. Measuring 27.4 × 19.6 cm in the compact *chuban* format—ideal for affordable distribution—this artwork exemplifies the vibrant world of *ukiyo-e*, or "pictures of the floating world." Likely depicting a poised beauty, it captures the elegance of women in everyday or theatrical life, a popular theme that brought art to the masses. The medium's brilliance stems from intricate woodblock printing techniques: carvers meticulously aligned multiple blocks, each inked in a single color, to layer vivid hues like reds, blues, and golds. By the mid-18th century, such innovations had transformed prints from simple black-and-white illustrations into accessible luxuries, reflecting urban Japan's booming culture of entertainment, fashion, and fleeting pleasures. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, *Lady Tamamushi* offers a window into 18th-century Japanese aesthetics. Its preservation highlights the enduring appeal of *ukiyo-e*, influencing global artists like Van Gogh and Whistler centuries later. A testament to anonymous mastery, it invites visitors to ponder the grace and impermanence of beauty in the floating world.

About the Artist

Unknown

The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...