{"product_id":"four-friends-of-calligraphy-lady-murasaki-yashima-gakutei","title":"Four Friends of Calligraphy: Lady Murasaki - Yashima Gakutei","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined woodblock print by Yashima Gakutei depicting Lady Murasaki, the author of The Tale of Genji, surrounded by her manuscripts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Yashima Gakutei depicts the Heian-period author Lady Murasaki, famous for writing The Tale of Genji. The work belongs to the surimono genre, which consists of privately commissioned prints often distributed among poetry circles. These prints are known for their high production quality, frequently utilising metallic pigments and embossing techniques to achieve a refined finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLady Murasaki is shown in a seated position, surrounded by the tools of her craft. She holds a stack of bound manuscripts, while a low writing desk sits behind her. The composition is balanced, with the figure of the author placed centrally against a simplified background. A large, circular moon hangs in the upper left, providing a sense of quiet atmosphere. The artist employs a muted palette, allowing the patterned robes of the figure to draw the eye. The border of the print features a repeating floral motif, which is embossed into the paper, adding a tactile quality to the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGakutei was a student of Hokusai and became a master of the surimono format. His work often incorporates kyoka, or comic verse, which is visible here in the calligraphy above the figure. The print reflects the cultural interests of the Edo-period literati, who valued the intersection of visual art and classical literature. The attention to detail in the textile patterns and the precise rendering of the books demonstrate the technical skill required for such commissions. This print offers a glimpse into the aesthetic preferences of the period, where literary figures were frequently reimagined through the lens of contemporary artistic styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/young-woman-with-a-birdcage-ryugetsusai-shinko\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eYoung Woman with a Birdcage by Ryūgetsusai Shinkō\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/three-poems-from-the-later-collection-of-japanese-poems-gosen-wakashu-suzuki-harunobu\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThree Poems from the Later Collection of Japanese Poems (Gosen wakashū) by Suzuki Harunobu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/yashima-gakutei\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eYashima Gakutei artwork →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Yashima Gakutei","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59115648287055,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59115650089295,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59115650122063,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59115650154831,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59115650187599,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59115650220367,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59115650253135,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59115650285903,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59115650318671,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59115650351439,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59115650384207,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59115650416975,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Four-Friends-of-Calligraphy_-Lady-Murasaki_Poster_CompositorV1_1791940016297.jpg?v=1791948555","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/four-friends-of-calligraphy-lady-murasaki-yashima-gakutei","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}