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Usu-gumo (chapter 19) from the album Illustrations for Genji monogatari in Fifty-Four Wood-Cut Prints

Ebina Masao (1913-1980)
 

Japanese Color Woodblock Print

Usu-gumo (chapter 19) from the album

Illustrations for Genji monogatari

in Fifty-Four Wood-Cut Prints

by Ebina Masao, c. 1953

Ebina Masao (1913-1980)


IHL Cat. #2441

About This Print

In this scene from chapter 19, Usu-gumoPrince Genji, age 31, is about to take Akashi-no-Uye's daughter Akashi-no-Himegimi to his residence at Nij.  Akashi-no-Uye is distraught, although she knows her daughter will have a better future with Genji.

Source: The Tale of Genji, Lady Murasaki, Dead Authors Society, 2018
The snow had melted a little when Genji paid his next visit. She would have been delighted except for the fact that she knew its purpose. Well, she had brought it on herself. The decision had been hers to make. Had she refused he would not have forced her to give up the child. She had made a mistake, but would not risk seeming mercurial and erratic by trying to rectify it at this late date.

The child was sitting before her, pretty as a doll. Yes, she was meant for unusual things, one could not deny it. Since spring her hair had been allowed to grow, and now, thick and flowing, it had reached the length that would be usual for a nun. I shall say nothing of the bright eyes and the glowing, delicately carved features. Genji could imagine the lady's anguish at sending her child off to a distant foster mother. Over and over again he sought to persuade her that it was the only thing to do.

For an excellent introduction to The Tale of Genji see Penguin's "Short Summary of the Tale" at https://www.penguin.com/static/packages/us/taleofgenji/introduction3.php


About The Album


Print Details

 IHL Catalog #2441
 Title or Description
Usu-gumo  薄雲
variously translated as A Wreath of Cloud, A Rack of Cloud, Wisps of Cloud, A Thin Veil of Clouds
 Series Illustrations for Genji monogatari in Fifty-Four Wood-Cut Prints
 木版画源氏五十四帖  Mokuhanga Genji gojūyonjō
 Artist
 Ebina Masao (1913-1980)
 Signature
 not signed
 Seal正夫 Masao
 Publication Date 1953 or after (originally issued 1953; multiple editions are known)
 Publisher Yamada Shoin 山田書院
 Carver carving supervised by Yoshio Kawamo [Kawatsura Yoshio 川面義雄 (1880-1963)]
 Printer 
 Impression excellent
 Colors excellent
 Condition excellent
 Genre genji-e
 Miscellaneous
 Format ōban
 H x W Paper 8 3/4 x 12 7/16 in. (22.2 x 31.6 cm)
 H x W Image 8 5/16 x 12 in. (21.1 x 30.5 cm)
 Collections This Print Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, Scripps College 2007.1.105; University of Kansas Libraries KU Bib ID: 4123242 (entire portfolio; images not shown); National Diet Library Call Number 913.36-E17g-K (entire portfolio dated 1958; images not shown)
 Reference Literature 
latest revision:
3/24/2021 created