-
The Tale of the Soga Brothers
Hiroshige, Utagawa, born 1797 - died 1858 - Enlarge image
The Tale of the Soga Brothers; Illustrations of Stories of Ancient Times
- Object:
Woodblock print
- Place of origin:
Japan (made)
- Date:
1843-1847 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Hiroshige, Utagawa, born 1797 - died 1858 (artist)
Tsujiya Yasubei (publisher) - Materials and Techniques:
Colour print from woodblocks
- Credit Line:
R. Leicester Harmsworth Gift
- Museum number:
E.2929-1913
- Gallery location:
In Storage
This 'uchiwa-e' (rigid fan print) design by Hiroshige is from a series of scenes from classical literature. However, Hiroshige put them into contemporary settings. Here he used the Yoshiwara licensed pleasure quarter in Edo (modern Tokyo) to illustrate an episode from 'The Tale of the Soga Brothers'. The text in the cartouche explains how Kajiwara Genda has fallen in love with the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shosho. He has just deliberately insulted her suitor Soga no Goro Tokimune. Tokimune, intent on avenging the death of his father, suppresses his fury and walks away without rising to the taunt.
Kewaizaka no Shosho is identified by name in the small pink cartouche on the upper left. Hiroshige shows her in gorgeous attire and with a coiffure that,in the 1840s, would have been appropriately old-fashioned for a classical story. You can see Kajiwara Genda shouting from his horse and Tokimune walking away with his head bent low.
