The small landscape depicted celebrates Mukojima situated on the east bank of the Sumida River. This is still a famous destination for viewing the cherry blossom trees that were first planted there by Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune (1684-1751). The fashionable young girl in the foreground is holding what is likely an emperor doll associated with the March 3rd Hinamatsuri or Girls Day festival. Kunikazu was a student of Utagawa Kunimasa and the oldest of three artist brothers. Prints of this type, called kuchi-e (mouth pictures), were made as frontispiece illustrations for novels and literary journals. The transience of the blossoms, the exquisite beauty and volatility, has often been associated with mortality and graceful and readily acceptance of destiny and karma, for this reason, cherry blossoms are richly symbolic, and have been utilized often in Japanese art, manga, anime, and film. Circa 1850-1900. | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / LOC / Science Source |
Taille de l’image : | 4350 px × 3113 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |