歌川國芳画　「源氏雲浮世画合　若紫 / 少将」|“‘Little Purple Gromwell’ (Wakamurasaki): Shōshō,” from the series Scenes amid Genji Clouds Matched with Ukiyo-e Pictures (Genji-gumo ukiyo e-awase)

Art Historical Context

This woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi captures a scene from the celebrated series “Scenes amid Genji Clouds Matched with Ukiyo-e Pictures,” created between 1845 and 1861. The work pairs an episode from Murasaki Shikibu’s eleventh-century novel The Tale of Genji—specifically the chapter “Wakamurasaki” (“Little Purple Gromwell”)—with the lively visual language of Edo-period ukiyo-e. Kuniyoshi, a master of the Utagawa school, reimagines the refined Heian court tale through dynamic composition and vivid color, bridging classical literature with the popular culture of his own time. Printed in the nishiki-e technique, the ōban sheet displays the rich palette and fine detail that defined full-color woodblock prints during the late Edo period. Kuniyoshi’s fluid lines and expressive figures bring the story’s characters to life, while subtle references to Genji’s narrative invite viewers to recognize both literary heritage and contemporary wit. Today housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the print exemplifies how ukiyo-e artists transformed ancient stories into accessible, visually engaging art for a broad audience, preserving cultural memory while delighting nineteenth-century viewers.

About the Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi · 1797–1861

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born in Edo to the silk-dyer Yanagiya Kichiyemon, originally bearing the childhood name Yoshisaburō. From a young age, he assisted in his family's pattern design work, which sharpened his innate mastery of color and textile motifs that would permeate his later prints. At around twelve years old, his prodigious drawing skills drew the attention of the renowned Utag...