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Image of Scene from" The Tale of the Martyr of Sakura"

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Bookmark: http://triarte.brynmawr.edu/objects-1/info/161124



Utagawa Kunisada (aka Toyokuni III)
Japanese (1786 – 1865) Primary



Scene from" The Tale of the Martyr of Sakura"

Late 18th century - early 19th century
Color woodblock

15 3/4 x 10 1/2 (40.01 cm x 26.67 cm)

Bryn Mawr College
Accession Number: S.61.a
Geography: Asia, Japan
Classification: Fine and Visual Arts; Prints; Woodcuts
Culture/Nationality: Japanese
Description: Prolific ukiyo-e woodblock artist Kunisada is known for his work on traditional themes of middle-class life and entertainment. His most famous works portray actors and scenes from kabuki plays, including this print, which illustrates a scene from Sakura Giminden, an eighteenth-century play written about a legendary folk hero.

In this story, Sogo, the headman of a small village, defies the law and makes a direct appeal to the shogun about his village's harshly high taxes. The village is granted relief but Sogo, his wife, and his children are all executed for his offense. In this scene, Sogo's family bids him a final, emotional farewell as he leaves to make his fateful appeal to the shogun.

Keywords Click a term to view the records with the same keyword
This object has the following keywords:
  • Asian - Refers to the cultures of the continent of Asia, which is in the eastern hemisphere, and is bounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and is generally considered to be delimited on the west by the Ural Mountains. It also refers to the numerous islands off the coast of Asia.
  • bijinga - Paintings or prints that depict beautiful women. This term, which literally means "pictures of beautiful women," was most likely coined in the Edo period (1615-1868) or the Meiji period (1868-1912). Before this period, these pictures may have been called "onna-e" or "bijin-e".
  • children - People in the earliest developmental stage of life.
  • color - Refers to pigment in a medium, such as ink, water, or oil. A common example is in referring to the media of Asian art (e.g., "ink and color on paper").
  • color woodcuts - Woodcuts that incorporate color, usually through combining a series of blocks in precise registration that have been inked with individual hues and pressed onto one support.
  • families - Groups of individuals related by blood, marriage, adoption, or cohabitation.
  • fathers - Men who have children, either biologically or by adoption.
  • Japanese - Nationality, periods, cultures, and styles found in Japan, either in historical times or in the present.
  • mothers - Women who have children, either biologically or by adoption.
  • plays - Dramatic or theatrical performances staged by actors before an audience; acted representations of an action or story.
  • Ukiyo-e - Distinctive genre in painting and other media, but most prominently in woodblock printing. It arose in the Edo period (1600-1868) and built up a broad popular market among the middle classes. Subject matter typically focused on brothel districts and kabuki theatres, with formats ranging from single sheet prints to book illustrations. Generally, the style is characterized by a mixture of the realistic narrative of the Kamakura period and the mature decorative style of the Momoyama and Edo periods. Distinctive styles and specialties in subject matter were developed by different schools throughout the period.
  • woodcuts - Prints made using the process of woodcut, which is a relief process in which the design is cut into and printed from the plank side of a wood block; distinct from "wood engraving (process)," which is a relief process using the grain end of a wood block.

Additional Images Click an image to view a larger version
Additional Image S.61.a_BMC_f_6.jpg
S.61.a_BMC_f_6.jpg

Exhibition List
This object was included in the following exhibitions:
  • Worlds to Discover: 125 Years of Collections at Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr College , Sep 24, 2010 – May 28, 2011

Portfolio List Click a portfolio name to view all the objects in that portfolio
This object is a member of the following portfolios:

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=BMC>cite web |url=http://triarte.brynmawr.edu/objects-1/info/161124 |title=Scene from" The Tale of the Martyr of Sakura" |author=Bryn Mawr College Library Special Collections |accessdate=6/10/2023 |publisher=Bryn Mawr College</ref>

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