A Flowery Mirror of Beautiful Women (Bijin ryōka shū) 美人菱花集

1831, summer sixth month (Tenpō 2)

Not on view

This illustrated collection of kyōka (witty 31-syllable poems) has a clever title that literally means “A Collection of Beauties as Chestnut Flowers [ryōka or hishi].” But ryōka (water chestnut) also is an abbreviated way of referring to a ryōka-kyō, or metal mirror with floral motifs on the reverse side. The publisher of this volume probably created the title that would add a level of literary allusiveness to this compilation of genre scenes of women and poetry. The frontispiece and one of the illustrations in fact show images of metal cosmetic mirrors.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

美人菱花集
Title: A Flowery Mirror of Beautiful Women (Bijin ryōka shū) 美人菱花集
Artist: Katsura Seiyō 桂青洋 (Japanese, 1787–1860)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: 1831, summer sixth month (Tenpō 2)
Culture: Japan
Medium: Woodblock printed book; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: Other: 9 × 6 1/2 in. (22.8 × 16.5 cm)
Classification: Illustrated Books
Credit Line: Purchase, Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gift, 2013
Object Number: 2013.802
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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