Lady Murasaki Sets a Bird Free from a Cage - Yashima Gakutei

A refined surimono woodblock print by Yashima Gakutei, depicting Lady Murasaki releasing a bird, rendered with delicate lines and a muted colour palette.

This woodblock print by Yashima Gakutei depicts a scene featuring Lady Murasaki, the author of The Tale of Genji. The composition belongs to the genre of surimono, which were privately commissioned prints often exchanged among poets and artists. These works typically feature a combination of refined imagery and kyoka, a form of humorous or satirical waka poetry.

In this print, the subject is shown in a seated position, dressed in a highly detailed kimono featuring a repeating floral pattern. Her posture is calm, and her hand rests upon a small, rectangular bird cage. A bird is shown in flight above her, having been released from the enclosure. The artist employs a delicate line quality to define the folds of the fabric and the facial features of the figure. The colour palette remains restrained, relying on soft earth tones and muted reds to create a sense of balance.

Surimono prints are known for their technical sophistication, often incorporating metallic pigments or embossing, though these elements may appear subtle in reproduction. The inclusion of calligraphic text within the composition serves as an integral part of the design, balancing the visual weight of the figure. Gakutei was a student of Totoya Hokkei and Katsushika Hokusai, and his work reflects the high standards of the Edo period printmaking tradition. This piece captures a moment of quiet narrative, drawing upon classical Japanese literature to inform its visual subject matter. The flat composition and focus on decorative elements are characteristic of the Ukiyo-e style, prioritising aesthetic harmony over three-dimensional perspective.