Artist: Toyohara Kunichika
Title: Aoi (Chapter 9)
Date: c. 1884
Details: More information...
Source:
Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description:
This bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) series was designed in the Genji theme by Kunichika. The rendition of water in this print, including its translucent quality and the lines depicting the movement of the waves, is superb. Female divers harvesting abalone is a popular ukiyo-e subject. Abalone shells are symbolic of female sexual organs. Prints depicting partially nude female divers are considered to be abuna-e (erotic prints). A different example of abuna-e with the theme of abalone harvesting by Kunisada II is currently on view in the Michener Gallery (No. 21). (from Tale of Genji exhibition 1/11/06-)
