Artwork
墨をする官女『春雨集』 摺物帖|Court Lady at Her Writing TableFrom the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 3
墨をする官女『春雨集』 摺物帖|Court Lady at Her Writing TableFrom the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 3 is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Yashima Gakutei. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This woodblock print, 'Court Lady at Her Writing Table,' is part of the 'Spring Rain Collection,' an album of surimono created around 1824 by Yashima Gakutei, a Japanese artist and poet.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a court lady writing at a low table with a brush on a long, thin sheet of paper. She wears a kimono with a floral pattern and has long black hair, surrounded by books and papers on a table draped with a red cloth.
Technique & Style
Gakutei, trained under Totoya Hokkei and Hokusai, produced refined surimono prints characterized by intricate designs. This work, rendered in ink and color on paper, showcases his skill in capturing delicate themes and poetic subjects.
History & Provenance
Gakutei was active in the late 18th and mid-19th centuries, contributing to kyōka poetry and surimono prints. 'Court Lady at Her Writing Table' is a representative example of his work from around 1824.
Artist & collection
Artist
Yashima Gakutei (Japanese: 八島岳亭; c. 1786 – 1868) was a Japanese artist and poet who was a pupil of both Totoya Hokkei and Hokusai. Gakutei is best known for his kyōka poetry and surimono works.
Untitled
「一陽連文房四友 硯 伯英」『春雨集』 摺物帖|The Chinese Calligrapher Boying (Japanese: Hakuei; also known as the “Sage of Cursive Script”); “Inkstone” (Suzuri), from Four Friends of the Writing Table for the Ichiyō Poetry Circle (Ichiyō-ren Bunbō shiyū) From the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1
Untitled
Osaka Tenmangu sairei no zu|The Tenmangu Festival at Osaka
「一陽連文房四友 筆 道風」『春雨集』 摺物帖|The Heian Court Calligrapher Ono no Tōfū (894–966); “Calligraphy Brush” (Fude), from Four Friends of the Writing Table for the Ichiyō Poetry Circle (Ichiyō-ren Bunbō shiyū)From the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1
Untitled
『和歌三神』 柿本人麻呂|Kakinomoto no Hitomaro (ca. 662–710), One of the Three Gods of PoetryFrom the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1
Untitled
詩人と富士山『春雨集』 摺物帖|A Poet and Mount FujiFrom the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 3
『春雨集』 摺物帖歌川国直画 元禄美人|Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1: Genroku-style Courtesan
八島岳亭画 『和歌三神』 衣通姫|Sotoori-hime (early 5th century), One of the Three Gods of PoetryFrom the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1
懐月堂度辰筆 文を書く遊女図|Courtesan Writing a Letter
「一陽連文房四友 紙 女凢」『春雨集』 摺物帖 |Nuji (Japanese: Joki; female attendant who compiled writings by Daoist sages); “Paper” (Kami), from Four Friends of the Writing Table for the Ichiyō Poetry Circle (Ichiyō-ren Bunbō shiyū)From the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1
女官図|Court Woman at her Desk with Poem Cards