Genji and the Young Damsels (Right-hand sheet of a triptych), from the series of “Popular Stories of Prince Genji” (Furyu Yatsushi Genji): Wakana no jô (chapter 34)
Hosoda Eishi

Description
For the series Stylish Genji Disguises, Hosoda Eishi created fifty-four scenes, one for each chapter of The Tales of Genji. Each set of three prints depicts a male dressed in ancient court robes and female characters in modern dress. This print relates to a moment in chapter thirty-four when a young courtier playing kickball with his friends falls in love with a princess he has glimpsed through blinds. But Eishi has reversed the gender roles: instead of a group of men, now there is only one, who is surrounded by women, several of whom are eyeing him. This playful subversion allowed Eishi to showcase the most up-to-date women's fashions and hairstyles. Examples of some of the objects shown in this print, such as the hair accessories and the scroll box in the left panel, can be seen in the nearby case.
Subject Matter:
The Label Copy details most of the subject matter.
Chapter 34, Wakana, also details the story of Genji falling in love with Murasaki when he is married to another, Nyosan. After realizing immature Nyosan is not fit for him, he turns to the intelligent Murasaki, comes into being an uncle/grandfather, and stays by her side when she falls ill. A priest is present during the course of her illness and when it takes a turn for the worse calls upon a young boy and performs an exorcism. The demon enters the young boy's body and leaves Murasaki who is now a shell of her former self. Distraught, Genji does not leave her side to check on Nyosan who is now pregnant with another man's child due to rape.
Physical Description:
Part of a triptych, this third depicts four individuals. The person on the left is a Shinto priest and holds a cylindrical object with a cloth. Two of the people on the right are kneeling while one stands holding a fan to her chest. They are outside. There is a signature on the right edge in the middle. Below it in the bottom left corner are two seals.
Usage Rights:
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