Artwork

Muraogi, from the series The False Murasaki's Rustic Genji (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji)

Muraogi, from the series The False Murasaki's Rustic Genji (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Kunisada. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1834 by the prolific ukiyo‑e artist Utagawa Kunisada, this woodblock print belongs to the series titled *The False Murasaki’s Rustic Genji* (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji). The image depicts a seated woman in a modest interior, accompanied by a small table with a blue‑and‑white porcelain vessel and a lantern. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is shown in a relaxed pose on a low stool, wearing a patterned kimono and black hakama, and holding a folding fan. Elements such as the fan and the stylized costume suggest the woman represents a character from a contemporary literary work or stage play, likely linked to the *Genji* theme that runs through the series.

Technique & Style

The print’s clear rendering of textiles and interior objects reflects the artist’s skill in depicting everyday scenes with decorative flair.

Kunisada employs the bold, saturated palette and crisp line work characteristic of late Edo‑period ukiyo‑e. The composition balances flat areas of color with defined outlines, while the inclusion of a miniature portrait within a circle and Japanese inscription adds narrative detail. The print’s clear rendering of textiles and interior objects reflects the artist’s skill in depicting everyday scenes with decorative flair.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in the early 1830s, a period when Kunisada was one of the most commercially successful printmakers in Tokyo. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the 20th century, where it now serves as a representative example of the artist’s work for the *Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji* series.