Spirit Summoner; Wild Geese Returning Home (Maboroshi; Rakugan) (right) and A Thin Veil of Clouds; Clearing Weather (Usugumo; Seiran) (left), from the series Eight Views of The Tale of Genji in the Floating World (Ukiyo Genji hakkei)
Chōbunsai Eishi Japanese
Not on view
In addition to his parodic Genji in Fashionable Modern Guise prints, Eishi created eight prints in diptych format that allude to Genji episodes. Each displays two beauties, with landscapes in insets that reference the scenic “Eight Views of Ōmi” and correspond to chapters from the tale. In the print representing Chapter 41, “Spirit Summoner,” the encircled geese and autumn grasses evoke a poem by the Akashi Lady. On the left, Chapter 19, “A Thin Veil of Clouds,” is recalled by the landscape of Awazu, a name that refers either to Genji’s interest in Akikonomu, or to a poetic exchange between Genji and the Akashi Lady.
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