Ukiyo-e

***So here is the background information on this ukiyo-e. This is a scene from the famous story The Tale of Genji. This was done by the "artist" Utagawa KUNISADA sometime during his lifetime (1786 to 1865). This image is entitles Genji kou no zu: Yuugao or Genji Incense Pictures: Yuugao. The Shining Prince had just presented a poem to the servant of the beautiful Lady if the Evening Faces (Yuugao), while his attendants wait by his ox cart. This print series came with a popular brand of incense associated with each chapter of the romance.
***Utagawa KUNISADA was one of the best representatives of Japanese woodblock when it came to their colors. However, due to the globetrotters, his work as well as other top-notch ukiyo-e makers were considered to be inferior to those of the classical ukiyo-e (the ones the globetrotters were more interested in). He had created the Genji prints between the years 1835 to 1850. After he finished his Genji series, other ukiyo-e makers were following in his footsteps by creating similar type of ukiyo-e.

***Let's begin the analysis, shall we? I will begin by looking at the paper condition rather than the image itself. The paper had shown years of aging by its background color. There stains at the top of the paper were the calligraphy was, as well as on the actual ukiyo-e above Genji's attendants and on the stone walls. Where the attendants were located was a few minor creases among the stain. There were minor chips in the paint, such as the servant girl's hand and behind the girl's body.
***The quality of the ukiyo-e was dull, lines were broken, colors were faded, and the colors ran outside of their intended lines. This print must have been in the back of the printing process for none of the lines are sharp inside the artwork. Colors were slightly running outside of their lines, such as in the furthest attendant's clothes, Genji's clothes, and the flowers from the poem. Colors were in the process of fading.
***The print depicts Genji giving the servant of the beautiful and reclusive Lady of the Evening Faces (Yuugao) during the night. This was because it was the only time the Shining Prince Genji would be able to safely go out and visit his lovers. Due to the bountiful amount of the blue flowers, one would assume that it is springtime. These flowers which Genji is presenting to the servant only bloom during the night (according to Mizenko-sensei). Obviously, Genji is presenting this girl what seems to be a fan (the poem could have been written on it) adorned with flowers. His attendants are waiting for Genji to finish his visit to Yuugao. The looks on the attendant's face implies that he is getting impatient with the prince. A person who does not know the background information of this tale might assume that the woman is offering the man (Genji) the flowers and fan. The look on her face is stoic so that gives the impression that she might not care for the man at all.
***I think that ukiyo-e did a good job giving off the illusion of attempting to be 3D in a sense. It looks a little like stacked on top of one another and follows the Japanese angled lines to further that illusion. The Japanese did this when they could not produce that 3D effect. The focus seems to be on Genji and the woman. If you look at the attendants and follow their gaze, it appears to land on the two people. Although, it appears to me that the clouds are split open to allow its viewer to see Genji and this girl, due to the clouds on both top and bottom. The one attendant is gazing the umbrella (which draws the eye up to Genji) or passed the umbrella to the woman. Of course, Genji's gaze is going to the woman and the woman is looking back at him, which seems to make her appear bashful. The elements of the Japanese culture would be the style and prints of the kimonos, the hair, and the ox cart. The ox cart would be used to cover the prince's identity as he rode about during the night. The woman also has the typical beautiful Japanese face that women were always depicted with having. The people and landscape interact with one another from the flowers. Genji was giving these types of flowers to the woman and the flowers seem to be all around the house that she lives in. I feel as though the print does come off as realistic in this scene. This print seems to be among the lines of being an ouban print, meaning the size was about 10 inches wide and 15 inches high. This print, though it was part of a series, was not part of a triptych. Each scene was created separately.
***I really had no emotion for this print; it didn't draw out any emotions from me. Others might experience emotions of the love story and touched by what Genji did; some might feel curious as why he is doing what he did. This print makes me think a little bit of Romeo and Juliet, of how the two lovers had to meet in secrecy. Some people might be able to relate to that.